McNamara Tosses Shutout, Owls Split Doubleheader with Wheaton (Ill.)

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State sophomore pitcher Sean McNamara (Lowell, Mass.) whiffed six Wheaton College hitters over seven scoreless innings as the Owls split a doubleheader with the Thunder on Friday afternoon from Lawnwood Park in Fort Pierce, Florida.

The Owls defeated the Thunder 9-0 in game one before losing game two by a final of 8-3. Westfield wraps up their Florida trip with an overall record of 4-1 while moving to 7-2 on the season.

GAME 1

A three run second inning got the game's scoring started with the bottom of the Owls stringing together consecutive run-scoring hits. Devin Slattery (Ware, Mass.) and Colin Ryan (North Chelmsford, Mass.) rattled off two straight hits to begin the frame, then Jonathan Toth (Granby, Mass.) put Westfield in front with a RBI single up the middle. Slattery went 3-3 in the contest.

Alex Martin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) followed with a line drive single into centerfield to score two runs, giving the Owls an early 3-0 advantage.

The Owls built on their lead in the third inning with Dan Burnett (Granville, Mass.) lofting a solo home run to left for his fifth homer of the season, giving Westfield a 4-0 lead. A Thunder fielding error allowed a fifth run to score, then Toth delivered a two-run single into center field for his second and third RBI of the contest.

John Nickerson (Chelmsford, Mass.) added to the Owls lead in the fifth with a RBI single with Martin closing the scoring in game one with a sacrifice fly, his third run driven in for the game.

McNamara (W, 1-0) cruised through the majority of the outing, surrendering only four hits while walking just one batter. The Thunder put two men in scoring position in the fifth inning with only one out, but McNamara fanned the next batter, then forced a flyout to Martin in centerfield to continue his scoreless effort. He then went on to retire six of the final seven batters faced, punching out four to earn the win.

The Owls chased Thunder starter Alex Bagley (Wheaton, Ill.) from the game after 2.1 innings as he gave up seven runs (six earned) on seven hits.

GAME 2

The Owls bats were cooled off for the first time on the trip by lefthanded starter Nate Burden (Wheaton, Ill.). Burden worked six innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with seven strikeouts.

Burden posted four scoreless frames entering the fifth inning where the Owls attempted to mount a comeback after giving up seven runs over the first four frames. Ryan began the inning with a one-out walk, then Sam Palmer (Medfield, Mass.) lined a base hit into left field where both runners would advance into scoring position after a passed ball.

Burnett put the Owls on the board with a two-out single into center field, plating two runs. Slattery followed with an infield hit where a throwing error from the Thunder allowed a third run to cross home, making it a 7-3 ballgame.

Chase Racine (Pittsfield, Mass.) was the next Owls hitter who launched a deep fly ball out to right field with the wind knocking the ball back in the park for a catch at the warning track, ending the inning. Westfield went down quietly in the final two innings with only an infield single coming from an Owls offense that has been potent all season long.

Colton Vasseur (Colchester, Conn.) received the start in game two for the Owls, allowing seven runs over four innings. Brendan Goonan (Raynham, Mass.) delivered a solid outing in relief, fanning four over two scoreless frames.

Westfield State will return back up north as the Owls are set to host their home opener on Tuesday, March 18 against Elms College at 3:00 P.M. from Bud and Jim Hagan Field in Westfield, Mass.