WESTFIELD, Mass. – Senior Nolan Florence (Chicopee, Mass.) opened the game with a two-run triple to jumpstart a Westfield State offense that tallied a season-high 15 runs as part of a 15-1 rout over Elms College in the home opener from Hagan Field on Tuesday afternoon.
The Owls have now won four of their last five games, improving to 9-3 on the season while the Blazers fall to an even 8-8.
Westfield quickly jumped on Elms in the opening three innings of play with Florence tripling home Alex Martin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and Devin Slattery (Ware, Mass.) after a first-inning error allowed the first run of the game to score.
After recording the first two outs in the second frame, the Owls reached base on seven straight trips, ripping off a five-run rally which was capped off by an RBI single from first-year outfielder Colin Ryan (Chelmsford, Mass.).
Slattery pushed the Owls into double digits in the third inning after launching a three-run double down the right field line to up the lead to 11-0.
The Owls scored in each of the first five innings with Robison Guerrero Baez (Dominican Republic) plating the team's 15th run of the contest in the fifth frame on a single to right.
Elms scored their lone run of the contest in the fourth inning with Blake Bastos (Mineola, N.Y.) shooting a grounder through the left side of the infield.
Westfield starting pitcher Colton Vasseur (Colchester, Conn.) picked up his third victory of the season, tossing five innings, allowing one run on two hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
Gino Tarantino (Trumbull, Conn.) was tagged with the loss for the Blazers, generating five outs while surrendering eight runs (six earned) on three hits with four walks and three punchouts.
Clark, Slattery, and Florence each collected three RBI with Ryan and Baez each tacking on three hits. Sam Palmer (Medfield, Mass.) reached base safely in all five plate appearances, registering two hits and three walks, scoring four times.
Bastos had two of the Blazers four hits on the afternoon.
Westfield State will be right back in action from Hagan Field as the Owls host Keene State tomorrow at 3:30 P.M. Elms College will open up conference play against Johnson & Wales on the road Saturday at 1:00 P.M.