HARTFORD, Conn.  –   Westfield State's Devin Slattery got things started with a first inning home run, as the Owls topped Trinity College, 5-1 in a non-conference baseball game at DiBenedetto Field on Tuesday afternoon.

Slattery finished 2-3 with two rbi, a run scored and walked twice.

Slattery yanked a high fly ball down the left field line and just inside the foul pole to stake Westfield to a 2-0 lead after the top of the first.

The Owls added two runs in the third on a pair of RBI groundouts, and added a single in the fifth on an RBI single from Sam Palmer.  Palmer added a pair of hits for Westfield.

Westfield got a solid start from first-year Sean McNamara (W, 2-1), who worked five innings without giving up a run.  He scattered three hits and six walks, but fanned six Bantam hitters as well.  Sean Casey, Michael Hall, Joe Fischer and Joe Espinola each worked an inning in relief for the Owls.

Trinity tossed nine different pitchers during the game with their conference opener looming this weekend.  Starter Walter Shwarts (L, 0-1) was saddled with the loss.

Westfield improved to 11-3 overall, while Trinity is now 5-8.

Both teams struggled to get base runners home. The Owls stranded 14 men on base, while the Bantams left 15  aboard.

Westfield will host Mass Maritime on Friday in the MASCAC Conference opener for both teams.   Trinity will next host Bates College on Friday.