WESTFIELD, Mass. – Sean Clark (Dudley, Mass.) recorded the go-ahead run in the fourth inning and the Westfield State bullpen posted four scoreless frames to defeat Gettysburg 5-3 on the third day of the team's spring break trip from Fort Pierce, Florida on Sunday afternoon.
The Owls improve to 6-2 overall and 3-1 on the trip. The Bullets drop to 2-7 on the year.
Gettysburg scored the first run of the game in the second inning after a squeeze bunt from Brian Anderson (Chester, N.J.) scored Emmanuel Ajewole (Floral Park, N.Y.).
A two-out error by the Bullets allowed the Owls to tie the game at one in the third inning, then in the ensuing top half, three straight Westfield batters reached base with Clark connecting on a run-scoring single to left to lead 2-1.
With the bases loaded and one out, an infield single from John Bessette (Andover, Mass.) extended the Owls lead to 3-1, and later in the frame, Sam Palmer (Medfield, Mass.) registered a two-out, two-RBI single to push the lead up to four runs after four innings.
Gettysburg threatened to get back into the game in the fifth inning with a run-scoring double from David Preziuso (Selbyville, Del.) and an RBI groundout by Will Bercaw (Kennett Square, Pa.) shaved the Westfield lead to two runs.
With a runner on third and one out in the frame, Owls starter Colton Vasseur (Colchester, Conn.) fanned a pair of hitters to limit the damage, finishing the afternoon by tossing five innings, allowing three runs on two hits with four walks and five strikeouts.
From the sixth inning forward, Westfield turned to the bullpen with Sean Casey (Amston, Conn.), Charlie Walsh (Medfield, Mass.), and Joe Fischer (Avon, Conn.) holding the Bullets scoreless for the final four innings, combining to give up just two hits and four walks, fanning five. Fischer picked up his first save of the season, striking out Matt Nichols (White Plains, N.Y.) to end the game with the tying run on first base.
Vasseur secured his second win of the season in as many starts, while Alex Wilkie-Viscio (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.) was saddled with the loss for Gettysburg, pitching the first six innings, surrendering five runs (three earned), on eight hits and two strikeouts.
Westfield State will return to Vero Beach, Florida for their next game as the Owls take on Washington College with first pitch slated for 10:00 A.M.