SALEM – Salem State improved to 6-0 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference play with a 7-4, 9-1 baseball doubleheader sweep of Westfield State on Sunday afternoon, April 14.
The Viking raised their record to 14-10 on the year while the Owls slip to 10-13, and 3-3 in the MASCAC.
Richard Fecteu (Newbury, MA) hit two triples and Ryan Hyjek (Tolland, CT) pitched six strong innings to improve to 4-0 on the year as Salem State defeated Westfield State 7-4 in game one.
The Vikings struck first in the bottom of the second when Matt Burgess (Kingston, MA) worked a one-out walk, stole second, and scored on a Mike Lamothe (Beverly, MA) base hit.
Westfield State scored three times in the top of the third to take a 3-1 lead. Dan Rokitowski (Wappingers Falls, NY) and Mike Molta (Nantucket, MA) led off with back-to-back singles. A Salem State error loaded the bases, and Pat McWilliams (Duxbury, MA) produced a sacrifice fly to right. Kyle Colesanti (Mount Kisco, NY) then plated two more runs with a line drive single to right.
The Vikings drew to within a run in the fourth, after Brett Cahill (Gloucester, MA) was hit by a pitch and scored when Richard Fecteu (Newbury, MA) tripled off the wall in right center.
Salem State took a 6-3 lead in the fifth with a big four-run uprising. Ethan Trowt (Beverly, MA) and Steve Buitkus walked to open the innng. Trowt scored the first run after taking third on a wild pitch and came home on an overthrow by the catcher. A hit by Kevin Salines (Melrose, MA) loaded the bases and Brett Cahill (Gloucester, MA) delivered a two-run triple to center.
Westfield State rallied in the top of the sixth scoring a run after Colsanti led off the inning with a walk and, following a single and hit batter, scoring on a wild pitch.
The Owls reloaded the bases the bases with two outs, but Hyjek kept the damage to just a run with a huge strikeout that ended the threat.
Fecteau added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth after narrowly missing his second home run of the day with his second triple off the right field fence, and later scoring on a wild pitch.
Andrew Guido pitched (Peabody, MA) pitched a scoreless seventh to notch his second save of the year.
Hyjek went six innings and allowed seven hits, two earned runs, while striking out four to improve to 4-0 on the year. Mike Molta (Nantucket, MA) started for Westfield and went five innings allowing five earned runs on five hits and four strikeouts to slip to 2-2 on the year. Curt Everett (Lexington, MA) pitched the final inning for the Owls, allowing one run on one hit with two strikouts.
Westfield State opened the scoring in the second game when Tyler Adams (West Barnstable, MA) reached first on a hit by pitch and scored on an RBI single by Kevin Greene (Worcester, MA).
However, Salem State answered in the bottom half of the inning, plating two runs. Kevin Salines (Melrose, MA) singled and Kyle McElroy (Newburyport, MA) was hit by a pitch to place runners on first and second. Matt Burgess followed with a two-run single to give the home team a 2-1 lead.
The Vikings added two more in the second when Trowt doubled and scored on a Ryan Beliveau (Lynn, MA) triple, Steve Buitkus (Reading, MA) followed with a sacrifice fly to give Salem State a 4-1 lead.
The Vikings broke open the game in the fifth, scoring five times to take a 9-1 lead. Ryan Peterson (Weymouth, MA) relieved starter Joe Alibrandi (Quincy, MA), and loaded the bases after hitting a batter and walking two.Trowt worked a walk to score one run, and Beliveau added a sacrifice fly. Following an RBI single by Buitkus, Salines drove in two with a triple.
Salem State starter Cato Lacroix (Holliston, MA) shut down the Owl offense over the next five innings to even his record at 2-2,scattering eight hits and allowing just one earned run with two strikeouts.
Alibrandi lasted just two innings and gave up four runs on four hits with two strikeouts.
Salines went 2-2 with two walks, including a triple and two RBI, while Beliveau had a double and triple with two runs batted in. Colesanti added two hits for the Owls.
Salem State will play MCLA in a doubleheader Monday, April 15, at 1:00 PM. The twinbill will be played at Westfield State. The Owls will travel to Mass Maritime for a noon doubleheader.
