MCLA Loses Pair at Westfield State

MCLA lost a doubleheader Tuesday as Westfield State blasted 32 hits in a 4-1, 23-2 double header sweep.

Westfield improves to 17-16 overall and 8-4 in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletics Conference. MCLA drops to 4-29 and 2-10.

The Owls rapped 12 hits in the opener but still needed a strong pitching performance from senior Madeline Tomich (Alford/Mt. Everett HS). Tomich struck out nine and allowed four walks in going the distance.

MCLA freshman Kendra Hinkell spoiled Tomich's bid for a shutout when she slugged a solo home run with two outs in the last inning.

MCLA's Angelica Perfido led off the second inning with a triple off the left field fence, but the Trailblazers were unable to score as Perfido was thrown out at home on a squeeze bunt play.

Westfield scored an unearned run in its first at bat when Courtney Begin reached safely on a two-base infield throwing error. She advanced to third on a ground out and scored on Kerin DeGirolamo's infield single.

MCLA loaded the bases in the top of the fourth when Kelly Pirzl led off with a single, Kayla Koumjian followed with a walk and one out later Sam Barbarotta reached on an error. The Trailblazers could not score though as Erin Kelley fouled out and Hinkell struck out.

The Owls scored the eventual game-winning run in the fourth off MCLA starter Ainsley MacDonald on a bases-loaded infield single by Begin.

Begin was 3 for 4 and freshman second baseman Breanne Bisceglia was 3 for 3 with a triple. DeGirolamo and Molly Dunbar both laced two singles.

MacDonald was very good for MCLA on the mound. MacDonald did allow twelve hits, but walked none and allowed just one earned run in the tough-luck loss.

DeGirolamo and Dunbar were Westfield's leading hitters in the second game. DeGirolamo was 4 for 5, including a three-run inside-the-park homer. Dunbar was 3 for 4 with a triple and a three-run homer that she blasted over the center field fence.

The Owls also scored five runs in the first and six in the fourth.

MCLA, which scored two unearned runs in the fourth, had two hits off Westfield's three pitchers, singles by Hinkell and Perfido.

MCLA will look to get back in the win column Friday when they host Southern Vermont College at 3:30pm.