Novak Shines in Westfield Debut; Owls Reach Double Digit Runs Again to Top Marywood 10-4

FORT PIERCE, Fla. – Westfield State junior pitcher Jack Novak (Colchester, Conn.) allowed just one hit over the final 4.1 innings in his Owls debut as Westfield jumped out to an early lead, pulling away 10-4 against Marywood College on Monday night from Lawnwood Park in Fort Pierce, Florida.

The Owls improve to 4-1 on the season and have scored 69 runs across five games this season. The Owls handed the Pacers their first loss of the season, dropping them to 3-1 overall.

Originally scheduled as a doubleheader before inclement weather early in the day pushed the early slate of games back, the Owls waited for several hours to take the field, but that did not cool off their bats which scored a combined 45 runs on Saturday at Trinity.

The Owls flew out to an early six-run lead after a pair of three run innings. Sam Palmer (Medfield, Mass.) led off the game with a double to left, then two batters later, Dan Burnett (Granville, Mass.) ripped a long fly ball to the left-centerfield warning track to score Palmer for the game's first run.

Devin Slattery (Ware, Mass.) singled up the middle to plate Burnett, then with two outs in the inning, Justin Neidel (Attleboro, Mass.) lined a single into right to drive in Slattery to open up a 3-0 lead.

Westfield senior starter Dominic Novio (Mansfield, Mass.) worked his way around a first inning jam in the bottom half, securing a pair of strikeouts with two runners in scoring position to escape the frame without allowing a run, setting up another strong offensive inning for the Owls.

The rally began with two outs in the frame as three consecutive singles led to a fourth run crossing the plate on a RBI single from Burnett. Slattery kept the line moving with a walk allowing Thomas LaSpada (West Hartford, Conn.) to rip a two-run single to right field. Palmer's two-out single in the second inning secured his 100th career hit.

The Owls held on to a five-run lead entering the fifth after a Robison Baez (Dominican Republic) fifth inning triple gave Westfield a 7-1 lead.

Novio worked into the fifth inning and recorded two outs while allowing a pair of baserunners before AJ Giannetti (New City, N.Y.) tagged a three-run home run to left-centerfield to trim the Owls lead to 7-4. Novak entered the game and retired the Pacers next hitter where he would settle into the game by allowing only one hit the rest of the way.

The Owls tacked on two runs later in the game as the tenth run of the night came after a triple from Burnett to left centerfield for his third RBI of the night. Westfield has reached double digit runs in four of their first five games to start the season.

Westfield's top five hitters all delivered multi-hit games with Burnett leading the bunch with three hits and three RBI.

Westfield chased Pacers starter Caleb Fisher (Palmyra, Pa.) from the game after just two inning where he allowed six runs on eight hits, taking the loss. Novak earned the win in relief.

Westfield State will be right back in action tomorrow afternoon as the Owls face Washington College (8-2) from the Jackie Robinson Baseball Complex in Vero Beach, Florida at 1:00 P.M.