Owls Softball Impresses in Sullivan Field Debut

WESTFIELD, Mass.    –  Westfield State hit a pair of home runs and got two strong pitching performances as the Owls handled Skidmore, 8-0 and 14-2 in a non-conference doubleheader at Sullivan Field on Wednesday afternoon.

In the opener, senior pitched Katherine Canty (Natick, Mass.) tossed a 2-hitter and first-year 2b Rylie Camacho (Attleboro, Mass.) homered en route to a 8-0 win in the first-ever game at the newly named Sullivan Field.   

Westfield led 1-0 after one and 3-0 after three, then erupted for five runs in the fourth inning to bring the eight-run rule into play.  Camacho led off the fourth with a high fly ball home run over the left centerfield fence to start the rally.

Sarah Hough (Southwick, Mass.) finished 3-3 with a pair of doubles, two RBI and three runs scored.  In the third inning she lined a ball of the top of the left field wall, inches from a home run for and RBI double.

Canty (W, 5-0)had the thoroghbreds off balance all afternoon, walking one and striking out six.  She threw three no-hit innings before Natalie Mayne (Fayetteville, N.Y.) reached on an infield single on a little flare down the first base line that Owls' 1b Sarah Bingham (Reno, Nev.) nearly made a diving catch on.

Skidmore starter Mallory Allen (Blairstown, N.J.) went the distance in taking the loss, allowing 10 hits while striking out and walking two.

In game two, the Owls kept the bats warm, scoring six times in the bottom of the first, capped by a three run blast to left by designated player Janna Jose (Middlefield, Conn.).   Westfield tacked on three in the second, and five more in the fourth.

Jose finished 2-3 with two runs scored and four RBI.  Hough added two more hits and two runs to finish 5-6 at the plate in the two games.

Hannah Wodecki (Southampton, Mass.) rapped out three hits including a pair of doubles.

Westfield starter Joss Mettey (Easthampton, Mass.) (W, 5-0) tossed a complete game, allowing two hits, two walks and striking out four.

Skidmore pushed across their two runs in the top of the four taking advantage of a pair of wild pitches and an error in the inning.  Jessica Nachamie (Merrick, N.Y.) started the rally with a one-out base hit down the left field line and later came around to score when Erin Gibbons (East Northport, N.Y.) reached on an error.  Gibbons had the other hit in game two for the Thoroughbreds (4-6).

Westfield improves to 10-2 on the season, and sweeps the first series at newly named and renovated Sullivan Field. The infield was completely resurfaced during the summer to improve both drainage and playability, helping to get the Owls on the field for a game on one of the earliest-ever dates in the year on the natural grass field.   

At homecoming in October of 2024, the field was renamed in honor of the Sullivan family, which includes four Westfield State alumni and three varsity athletes among their ranks, longtime supporters of the Owls' athletic programs.

Westfield will be back in action at Sullivan Field on Saturday, hosting Vermont State –Lyndon in a 2:00 p.m. doubleheader.