Baseball Drops Doubleheader to Mass. Maritime

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State baseball dropped a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader set of games against Mass. Maritime on Saturday afternoon from Hagan Field in Westfield, Mass.

After the Owls won game one of the series 26-9, the Buccaneers took both games of the doubleheader to win the series, taking the first game 11-6 before rallying in game two for a 4-3 victory. The Owls fall to 12-5 on the season and 1-2 in the MASCAC while the Buccaneers improve to 10-8 and 2-1 in the conference.

GAME 1

The Buccaneers scored in six of the seven innings, with only the sixth frame failing to produce a run. Mass. Maritime tallied 13 hits and capitalized on three Westfield State errors to secure the victory.

Michael Estrada (Covington, LA) and Aaron Cole (Sandwich, MA) led the Buccaneers with three RBIs each, while AJ Pietrafesa (Harwinton, CT) went 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Brett Velzis (Cypress, TX ) added a two-hit, one-RBI performance, and Jake Houston (Bellingham, MA) contributed a double and scored twice.

For the Owls, Chase Racine (Pittsfield, Mass.) provided the biggest spark with a two-run home run in the third inning, finishing 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Alex Martin (Shrewsbury, Mass.) drove in two runs, while Devin Slattery (Ware, Mass.) and Dan Burnett (Granville, Mass.) each added an RBI in the losing effort.

Hunter Dean (Plymouth, MA), (3-1) earned the win for Mass. Maritime, pitching a complete game while allowing six runs on seven hits with ten strikeouts. Despite giving up six earned runs, Dean demonstrated resilience by shutting down the Owls in the final inning when they threatened. Colton Vasseur (Colchester, Conn.), (1-3) took the loss for Westfield State, surrendering seven earned runs on ten hits in four innings of work.

The Buccaneers wasted no time establishing their offensive presence, jumping ahead 2-0 in the first inning. After Pietrafesa and Velzis reached with singles, Estrada delivered a clutch two-run single to left field to draw first blood.

Mass. Maritime doubled their advantage in the second inning. Houston led off with a double, and Cole singled him home before later scoring on an error, making it 4-0.

Westfield State responded with a three-run rally in the bottom of the second to trim the deficit to 4-3. Jonathan Toth (Granby, Mass.) and Bessette strung together singles before Martin delivered a two-run single up the middle. After Sam Palmer (Medfield, Mass.) walked to load the bases, Burnett was hit by a pitch to force in another run, though a double play ended the threat before the Owls could tie the game.

The Buccaneers immediately countered in the top of the third. After Colsen Loughren (Cape Coral, FL) walked and Michael Logiudice (Bridgewater, MA) singled, Aidan Weir's (Wallingford, CT) RBI single and Cole's sacrifice fly pushed the lead back to three runs at 6-3.

Racine's powerful two-run homer to right field in the bottom of the third kept the Owls within striking distance at 6-5, scoring Nick Marshall (Reading, Mass.) who had led off the inning with a double.

Mass. Maritime maintained their pattern of scoring in each inning when Pietrafesa crossed the plate on Estrada's sacrifice fly in the fourth, extending the lead to 7-5.

Any hopes of a comeback were dashed in the top of the seventh as the Buccaneers put the game away with a three-run inning. After Weir reached on an error, Cole drove him in with his third RBI of the game. Following a pitching change, Velzis singled home Cole, and Gorry's RBI groundout capped the scoring at 11-6.

GAME 2

The Owls appeared to be in control after a productive third inning but watched as Maritime methodically fought back, ultimately stealing the win with a decisive run in the sixth inning.

Westfield State broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third when they strung together four hits to plate three runs. Toth and Bessette started the rally with back-to-back singles. After a fielder's choice and another runner reaching base, Burnett delivered the game's first big blow, driving a double to right-center field that scored both Palmer and Bessette. Marshall followed with an RBI single up the middle to bring home Burnett, giving the Owls a seemingly comfortable 3-0 lead.

The Buccaneers' offense remained quiet until the fifth inning when they capitalized on three free passes. Houston and Weir drew consecutive walks to start the frame. After Cole's flyout advanced Houston to third, Velzis delivered a clutch two-out, two-run single up the middle that scored both Houston and Weir. The Buccaneers weren't done, as a wild pitch allowed Pietrafesa to score from third, knotting the game at 3-3.

In the sixth inning, Estrada drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on Logiudice's sacrifice bunt. After a strikeout, Weir connected on a decisive double to left field that brought home Estrada with what proved to be the winning run.

The Owls had a prime opportunity to tie or retake the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Robison Baez (Dominican Republic), who pinch-ran for Marshall earlier in the game, drilled a one-out triple to right-center field, putting the tying run just 90 feet away. Buccaneers starter Sam Huffman (Guilford, CT) showed his poise by inducing a groundout then a flyout to escape the frame.

Maritime reliever Sean Hallissey (Plymouth, MA) slammed the door in the seventh, retiring all three Westfield State batters he faced to earn his first save of the season.

Huffman earned the victory for the Buccaneers, improving to 3-1 on the season. He scattered six hits over six innings, allowing three runs while walking one and striking out two. Charlie Walsh (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season for the Owls, surrendering one run in his inning of relief.

Westfield State's next game will come on Tuesday, April 1 at Keene State with first pitch at 2:00 P.M.

Written by Tom Onorato – WSU Sports Information Intern