Trailblazers Lose Despite Parillo's Three Homers
MCLAs Joe Parillo (West Springfield, MA) clubbed three home runs on the day but it wasnt enough as the Trailblazers fell to Westfield State 21-6, 9-8 in a doubleheader sweep.
MCLA’s Joe Parillo (West Springfield, MA)
clubbed three home runs on the day but it wasn’t enough as
the Trailblazers fell to Westfield State 21-6, 9-8 in a
doubleheader sweep.
The Owls – ranked No. 3 in this week’s NCAA New England
Region poll - boosted their record to 25-7 overall and ran their
win streak to nine straight.
Also, Westfield remains in sole possession of first place in the
MASCAC with a 10-2 record. MCLA dropped to 8-20 and 1-11.
After coasting to its first-game victory, the Owls had to hold
on for a tense 9-8 victory in the nightcap. Westfield again allowed
three first-inning runs but it scored three runs in the first and
six in the second to take a 9-4 lead. But the Owls were held
scoreless the rest of the game while the scrappy Trailblazers
chipped away at the lead.
MCLA scored two in the third and single runs in the fourth and six
frames to cut the lead to a run, 9-8. Tim Burns
(Pittsfield, MA) delivered a two-out RBI single in the
sixth inning but MCLA stranded runners at second and third when
Evan Frank (Schenectady, NY) truck out
swinging.
In MCLA’s final at bat, John Ripepi (Amsterdam,
NY) rapped a one-out single and Eddie George
(Falls Church, VA) reached safely on a bunt hit when first
baseman Ben Campbell fielded the bunt and tossed the ball to an
unattended first base.
With Ripepi running to third on the errant toss, Campbell quickly
picked up the ball and fired it across the diamond, throwing out
Ripepi at third on a controversial call for out No. 2.
George stole second on the next pitch and Westfield intentionally
walked the dangerous Parillo, who already had blasted three home
runs in the doubleheader.
With runners at first and second, Westfield closer Phil Towne then
struck out another dangerous hitter – Osiris Mendez
(Queens, NY) – on an 0-2 slider as the Owls
held on for the victory.
Westfield was out-hit, 13-11. Senior Jeff Fields (Pittsfield) was
3-for-3 with an RBI for the Owls. Campbell was 2 for 4 with two RBI
and Jeff Ackerman tripled.
Parillo, entered the game with no home runs this season, slammed
two solo shots in the first game and blasted a three-run
roundtripper in the first inning of the second game. He was 3 for 4
in the nightcap.
Ripepi was 3 for 4 with an RBI and Mike Meaney (North
Adams, MA) was 2 for 3.
Matt McDougall, the second of four Westfield pitchers, was credited
with the victory.
In the opener, the Owls belted 22 hits in coasting to their 21-6
victory. MCLA scored three runs in its first at bat and led 5-3
when the Owls crossed the plate five times in the bottom of the
third, including two bases loaded walks.
Sophomore third baseman Matt Kelly led the Owls at the plate, going
4 for 5 with a homer and five RBI. Mike Trachtenberg was 2 for 3
with four RBI and Ackerman was 2 for 3 with a double and three
RBI.
Campbell was 4 for 5 with a double and an RBI and Fields was 2
for 4 with two RBI.
Mendez paced MCLA’s 12-hit attack, going 3 for 4 with a
triple and an RBI. Parillo was 2 for 4 with his two home runs, both
solo shots.
Sean Keane was the winning pitcher in relief of starter Bret
Siflinger. He threw the final four innings, allowing five hits and
one walk.
MCLA will wrap up the season at Salem State on Saturday at 1:00 PM.
