Julia Sullivan socked a solo home run in game 1, then picked up the pitching win in game 2 as Westfield State swept MCLA on Wednesday afternoon. (file photo)
NORTH ADAMS – The visiting Westfield Owls rallied to an 8-4 game one victory and then cruised 5-1 in the nightcap as they swept a MASCAC twinbill from the MCLA Trailblazers this afternoon at Zavattaro Complex. With the wins, the Owls are now 16-20 overall and 8-4 in the MASCAC. The Trailblazers fall to 11-19 overall and sit at 5-7 in the conference.
In the opener, Julia Sullivan got Westfield off to a fast start with a solo home run in the top of the first inning, but MCLA led 4-1 after five full innings before the Owls mounted a rally in the sixth off MCLA starter Kate Henault. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases without an out for Westfield in the sixth. Erika Gouin singled to center to drive in a run and then Angelica Banning doubled scoring two more runs to bring the Owls within a run at 5-4, but still without an out in the inning.
After an out, Sydney Ezold tripled to right field and scoring two runs pushing Westfield in front 6-5. Ezold would come around to score on an Emma Dunbar single for the final run of the frame. Westfield would add another run in the seventh to put further separation between the teams.
MCLA threatened in the seventh loading the bases, however the Owls ended the game on a double play securing the win.
Sullivan, Maddy Atkocaitis, Banning, and Dunbar led the offensive attack with a pair of hits each. The run support made a winner of Sarah Eugenio who went the distance allowing 9 hits and the four runs.
Henault took the loss for MCLA in going the distance. Kate Berghela and Michaela Dinicola each had a pair of hits in the loss.
In game two, the Owls jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back. They scored an unearned run in the first inning and added three more in the fourth to take control off MCLA starter Rachel Quackenbush. The key hit in the frame came off the bat of Liz Kelly. Her single made it 3-0 and another run would scamper home on a Sullivan fielders choice.
MCLA would score a run in the fourth on a Jenn Sicinski RBI single, however MCLA left them loaded and trailed 4-1. The Owls added another unearned run in the fifth to provide the final margin.
Owl starter Julia Sullivan and allowed just 4 hits and struck out six Trailblazers to earn the win. Kelly paced the offense with three hits for Westfield.
MCLA’s Quackenbush took the loss allowing five runs, however none were earned. She struck out 12 Owls. – Courtesy of Westfield State Sports
