WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State sophomore Justin Neidel (Attleboro, Mass.) clubbed three triples as part of a four-hit day, but the third-seeded Owls fell to sixth-seeded Fitchburg State 14-8 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference elimination game from Alumni Park in Bridgewater, Mass. on Thursday.
Fitchburg State (19-19) advances into the MASCAC quarterfinals and double elimination portion of the bracket as the Falcons will take on #2 Bridgewater State later today. With the loss, Westfield has been eliminated from postseason contention, concluding their 2023 season with an overall record of 19-19.
The Owls held an early three-run lead after a four-run fourth inning put Westfield in front. With two outs in the inning, Nolan Florence (Chicopee, Mass.) scored Ethan Day (Meriden, Conn.) on a double to left-center field, then Alex Martin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) put the Owls in front with a liner into center field. Another run came in to score via error, then Neidel belted his second triple of the contest into the gap in right-center to plate the Owls fifth run of the game.
The Falcons would answer the Owls rally in the ensuing half inning as nine of the first ten Falcons batters reached base to begin the frame. Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.) kicked off the scoring, then Zachary Malek (Schenectady, N.Y.) and Jacob Hurrell (Haverhill, Mass.) followed with run-scoring hits to tie the game, 5-5. Matthew Kelly (East Bridgewater, Mass.) knocked home the go-ahead run on a two-RBI single as the Falcons would not relinquish the lead from that point forward.
Three more Falcons' runs crossed the plate in the sixth, with Mat. Kelly delivering the damage once again on a two-run single through the left side of the infield, making it an 11-5 Fitchburg advantage.
The Owls attempted to fight back in the sixth inning beginning with Neidel who roped his third triple of the afternoon to set up an RBI single from Nick Marshall (Reading, Mass.). Devin Slattery (Ware, Mass.) kept the inning alive with a run-scoring single into left, but a fly out ended any additional runs from scoring as the Falcons led 11-7 after six innings of play.
Fitchburg seemingly had an answer to each of the Owls comeback charges, once again posting a crooked number in the seventh after the Owls cut into the deficit. A solo home run from Eramo kickstarted the frame, then a triple to center from Hurrell pushed the Falcons lead back up to seven runs at 14-7.
The final run of the day was off the bat of Day as he homered to left field for his fourth home run of the season.
Neidel led all Owls hitters with four hits while also scoring a pair of runs. Marshall tacked on two hits and two RBI with Slattery also supplying two hits. Day, Florence, and Martin all chipped in an RBI for the Owls.
Eramo continued his hot streak at the plate, racking up four hits, two RBI, and three runs scored. Malek and Hurrell each produced three hits with Hurrell falling a double shy of the cycle. Mat. Kelly led all hitters with four RBI.
Lowell Pare (Leominster, Mass.) picked up the win in relief for Fitchburg State. Pare (9-2) allowed three runs on eight hits over five innings with two walks and six strikeouts. Orion Daily (Nantucket, Mass.) worked the first four innings for the Owls, giving up five runs (one earned) on five hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
Ryan Lapierre (Pittsfield, Mass.) was tagged with the loss on the mound for Westfield State. Lapierre (4-4) gave up eight runs on 12 hits over 4 1/3 innings with three walks and four strikeouts.