Baseball Electrocutes Blazers, 18-7

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Senior infielder Robison Baez (Dominican Republic) kickstarted an eight-run second inning with a leadoff home run as Westfield State would continue their offensive prowess as part of an 18-7 victory over Elms College in the home opener from Bud and Jim Hagan Field in Westfield, Mass. on Tuesday.

11 different players recorded at least one hit for the Owls, which advanced to 8-2 on the season. The Blazers fall to 5-7 overall after the loss.

Westfield starter Dominic Novio (Mansfield, Mass.) worked his way out of a bases loaded jam in the first inning, inducing an inning-ending double play to post a zero in the top half of the frame, allowing the Owls offense to jump in front.

Sam Palmer (Medfield, Mass.) led off the home half with a double followed by a one out walk from Dan Burnett (Granville, Mass.). Chase Racine (Pittsfield, Mass.) drove in the Owls first run of the game, grounding one down the right field line for a RBI double to score Palmer. The Owls next batter, Devin Slattery (Ware, Mass.) singled to score Burnett to close the frame.

The Blazers again loaded the bases in the second inning with only one out, but Novio was able to navigate the inning allowing one run on a sacrifice fly from AJ Cook (Mendon, Mass.). From that point forward, Novio would settle into a groove on the mound, allowing just two additional baserunners while setting down the final six Elms batters faced in his start.

In the bottom of the second, the Owls opened the frame with Baez launching a home run to left centerfield to begin the inning. Back-to-back singles from Jonathan Toth (Granby, Mass.) and Antonio Scalise (Pittsfield, Mass.) turned the lineup over to Palmer who reached on an error, loading the bases with nobody out.

Nick Marshall (Reading, Mass.) stepped to the dish and lined a two-run single into right center before Burnett lofted a sacrifice fly to left field to score another run, making it a 6-1 Owls lead. The inning continued with a RBI single from Slattery with Westfield batting around in the order back to Baez who grounded a single back up the middle for a two-RBI knock for his third RBI of the inning to punctuate the frame. The Owls finished the inning by registering eight runs on seven hits.

Westfield continued to extend the lead in the third and fifth frames, adding three runs in both with a Colin Ryan (North Chelmsford, Mass.) two-RBI single driving the lead to 16-1.

Elms got to within nine runs after an extended sixth inning with Jayden Maynard (Enfield, Conn.) tallying a two-run single to cut the deficit to 16-7. Westfield closed the home half with a pair of runs as Stephen Carrozza (Pearl River, N.Y.) lined a single into rightfield, eventually scoring on a wild pitch to send the game to a run-rule after a scoreless seventh from Elms.

Novio (W, 1-0) picked up the win after working five innings, giving up one run on two hits. He walked four and fanned four. Justin Saad (Waterford, Conn.) got the start for Elms, surrendering ten runs (eight earned) over two innings.

Westfield State will be back in action tomorrow as the Owls travel to Hartford for a non-conference game at 3:00 P.M. Elms will host Wentworth on Thursday at 12:00 P.M.