Baseball Holds on for Thrilling 8-7 Game Two Victory in Split with Westfield State

Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University baseball team gunned down the tying run at the plate in the top of the seventh to end game two of a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader with an 8-7 victory over Westfield State University.  The Owls had taken the opener 6-0.

With the split, the Rams are now 8-14 on the season and 3-3 in the MASCAC, while the Owls move to 13-13 overall and 4-2 in the conference.

In game two, the Rams entered the top of the seventh leading 8-5.  The Owls started the inning with two runners on after an error and a single.  The Rams recorded a pair of outs including a fly ball that moved the lead runner to third.  Freshman Anthony Crowley (Bellingham, Mass.) pinch hit for the Owls and delivered an RBI double pulling the Owls within two with runners on second and third.  Senior Tyler Adams (West Barnstable, Mass.) followed with a single to left scoring a run to pull within one, but Crowley was gunned down at the plate trying to score from second ending the game.

The Rams had staked themselves an 8-0 lead in the bottom of the first of game two as they batted around.  Junior Ryan Wardwell (Hudson, Mass.) drove in the first run with an RBI double to left with two on.  Senior Jon Chapman (Waltham, Mass.) followed with a three run homer to center making it 4-0.  Junior Cole Josselyn (Hampton, NH) and sophomore Matt Brockett (Guilford, Conn.) each followed with two RBI base hits pushing the lead to 8-0.

The Owls slowly chipped away at the lead with two runs in the top of the second and two more in the top of the third.  Junior Kyle Murphy (Westfield, Mass.) delivered both times for the Owls with a two run ground rule double in the second and a two run triple in the third cutting the deficit to 8-4.

Adams added a solo homerun in the top of the sixth to pull the Owls within three heading into their final at bat.

Senior Dillon Corliss (Winterport, ME) earned the win for the Rams going 5/2 innings allowing five runs, three earned, on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts.  Freshman Blake Waters (East Sandwich, Mass.) earned his third save of the season tossing a third of an inning.

Junior Matt Nunes (Taunton, Mass.) took the loss allowing eight runs, seven earned, on eight hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.

In the opener, the Owls received a solid pitching performance from freshman John Gegetskas (Windsor, Conn.). Gegetskas tossed a shutout allowing just three hits with a walk while striking out seven.

The Owls took the lead for good in the top of the first. They loaded the bases with no outs and freshman Aaron Clancy (Fall River, Mass.) and classmate Christian Morales (Waltham, Mass.) worked bases loaded walks to plate the first two runs.  Evan Moorhouse (Westfield, Mass.) followed with an RBI single and Tyler Beach (Quincy, Mass.) drove in a pair with a single to left center.

Murphy added a solo homerun in the sixth to reach the final margin.

Senior Zack Kirby (Rochester, Mass.) took the loss for the Rams going seven innings allowing six earned runs on six hits with two walks and eight strikeouts.

Junior Manny Powers (Malden, Mass.) and seniors Ryan Connelly (Hyde Park, Mass.) and Jake Wardwell (Hudson, Mass) all recorded hits for the Rams in the opener.

Both teams are back on the field Monday for MASCAC doubleheaders.  The Rams travel to Worcester State at 12 p.m., while the Owls host Salem State at 12 p.m.