Junior designated hitter Tim Santilli (4 for 7, double, 2 RBI) led the Owls in their twinbill sweep of Worcester State and raised his batting average to .373. (File photo by Cody Goldman)
WORCESTER – Westfield State junior Tim Santilli (Southbridge, MA) went a combined 4-for-7 with a double and two RBI to help lead the Owls to a sweep of Worcester State, 4-2, 6-1, in a MASCAC baseball doubleheader Saturday, April 12, at the Lyons Diamond.
Westfield State evens its conference record at 3-3 and improves to 11-10 overall, while the Lancers suffer their first league setbacks and fall to 4-2 and 12-12 overall.
In game one both squads plated two first-inning runs for the 2-2 score.
After the first two batters of the game reached on free passes, Santilli ripped a first-pitch double down the left field line scoring both runners for the 2-0 advantage.
Worcester State responded quickly as junior David Ruggiero (Peabody, MA) smacked a triple to right center and classmate Zach George (Attleboro, MA) scampered home after singling to start the inning. Ruggiero then crossed home on freshman Adam Barry’s (Auburn, MA) groundout for the tie score.
The Owls added single scores in both the fourth and fifth innings to grab a 4-2 cushion.
Sophomore Tyler Adams (W. Barnstable, MA) registered a run-producing single to right field in the fourth. The Owls loaded the bases again in the top of the fifth with no outs. But Lancer junior southpaw Ben Libuda (Auburn, MA) produced a tailor-made 4-6-3 double play to limit the damage to a single score.
Owl junior right-hander Mike Molta (Nantucket, MA) commanded the strike zone and only allowed one batter to reach base over the final three innings of play to seal the victory.
Molta scattered five hits over his seven innings of work allowing two runs while striking out seven and walking one to improve to 2-2 for the year.
Libuda allowed four earned runs on six hits with five walks as he falls to 2-2 on the campaign.
Westfield State held the slim 6-5 edge in hits in the opener.
In the nightcap the Owls broke a scoreless tie in the top half of the third when sophomore Dan McCormack (Shelton, CT) belted a two-run triple to right center for the 2-0 score.
The Lancers cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the fourth as they plated an unearned run off a double play ball when Barry touched home.
However, Westfield State scored a pair of runs in both the fifth and seventh innings to pull away and complete the sweep.
Sophomore E.G. McMillan (Hopkinton, MA) highlighted the fifth with an RBI single to center and classmate Danny DiMatteo (Dennis, MA) came home on a misplayed ball by the centerfielder.
In the last frame for the Owls, senior Kyle Colesanti (Mount Kisco, NY) scored on a bad hop that the third baseman couldn’t come up with and Adams tacked on the final run on an errant throw by the pitcher, who tried to get his man at first base.
Westfield State outslugged the hosts 12-5 in the second game.
Junior Peter Cassidy (Bluffton, SC) picked up the win hurling six innings surrendering just one unearned run on five hits and one strikeout improving to 2-2 on the year.
Junior Kris Doyle (Millbury, MA) allowed four earned runs on 11 hits while walking four and striking out one over 5 1/3 innings of work falling to 3-3 for the season.
Ruggiero finished the day 3-for-6 at the plate with a triple an RBI and a run scored. Junior Jeff Bolio (Oxford, MA) collected a pair of hits in the nightcap for the Lancers.
McMillan and DiMatteo combined to go 5-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored in the final contest for the visitors. Santilli and McCormack also registered multiple hits in the second game with McCormack driving in a pair.
Both squads will continue their respective MASCAC schedules on Monday at 2:00 p.m. The Blue and Gold remain home with a twinbill against Fitchburg State while Westfield State travels to MCLA.
