Tommy Nowlan combined with Pete Liimatanien to throw a 2-hitter on Saturday.
SALEM – Tommy Nowlan (Williamstown, MA) shutout Salem State 1-0 in the first game of a MASCAC doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the Central Campus Baseball Field. However, the Vikings earned as split, as they came back behind a complete game effort from Sean Buckland (Lynn, MA) and four RBI from Mike Davis (Peabody, MA) and took game two, 5-1. Salem State is now 16-11 on the season and 5-3 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference. The Owls go to 17-6, and 4-4 in conference.
Game 1
The first game saw tremendous pitching from both starters as Nowlan edged Cato LaCroix (Holliston, MA) for the win. With limited scoring chances by both sides, the Vikings threatened in the second inning with a runner on third base, but Owls’ starter Nowlan got a timely strikeout to end the inning. In the third inning, captain Tim Santilli (Southbridge, MA) hit a fielder’s choice with the bases loaded that brought in the only run of the game, giving Westfield State a 1-0 lead.
Both pitchers were stellar with Nowlan (2-0) retiring nine straight at one point. Nowlan earned the win pitching six and a third innings, allowing two hits with six strikeouts. Salem State threatened in the bottom of the seventh as Davis walked and pinch-hitter Jose Cedano ( Lawrence, MA) singled to put runners on first and second with one out. However, Pete Liimatainen (West Barnstable, MA) snuffed out the rally with two groundball outs to earn his fourth save of the year. LaCroix (Holliston, MA) pitched a complete game, giving up just three hits and a run with a strikeout to slide to 2-1 on the year.
Game 2
In game two, Salem State got on the board first when Davis smashed a double to deep left center that brought two runs home in the second inning. In the third, Westfield State’s Sintilla hit a double, bringing home Pat McWilliams (Duxbury, MA) to make it a 2-1 game.
In the sixth inning, with the Vikings leading by a run, Richard Fecteau (Newbury, MA) made a sliding catch for an out that preserved Salem State’s 2-1 lead. Fecteau then led off the bottom of the inning, slashing a double to right. Following back-to-back walks, Davis again came through with a two-run single up the middle to make the score 4-1. Justin Thomson (Yarmouth, MA) took the loss going five and one third innings, and allowing five runs on five hits with five strikeouts. Thomson is now 2-1 on the year.
Buckland (2-1) pitched his second straight complete game, giving up a run on five hits with three strikeouts. Buckland also had two pickoffs for the Vikings
Salem State will play a double header Monday beginning at 12:00 PM when they travel to Worcester State, and Westfield State also returns to action on Monday in double header at Fitchburg State that starts at 1:00 PM. – Courtesy of Salem State Sports
