Softball drops a pair of games to Westfield State

Courtesy of WSU Sports Information

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State University's softball team swept Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader hosted by the Owls this afternoon.

The Owls improve to 15-16 on the season and 9-3 in the MASCAC while the Trailblazers drop to 5-24 overall and 2-10 in conference play.

In the opener, Westfield scored seven runs in the bottom of the second inning on five hits and three walks.  Julia Hebert (Auburn, Mass. / Leicester) delivered a two run single, and Caitlin Hughes (Hanson, Mass. / Whitman-Hanson) capped the scoring with a bases-loaded 3-run double.

Westfield added one run in the third and then three in the fourth inning. In the fourth Hughes led off with a triple to the right field corner, Angelica Banning (East Granby, Conn. / Suffield) followed with an RBI double, then Emma Dunbar (Weymouth, Mass. / Notre Dame Academy) scored Banning with a triple of her own.  Sydney Ezold (Westfield, Mass.) scored Dunbar from third with a bunt single that gave the Owls an 11-2 lead.

MCLA avoided the eight run rule by scoring two runs in the top of the fourth as Erica Quackenbush (Hoosick Falls, N.Y.) reached on a bunt single and took second on an error, Chelesa Coleman (Brookfield, Conn.) followed with a single to left that was misplayed to allow Quakenbush to score, and then Coleman later scored on Alex Romano's (Peabody, Mass. / Peabody Veterans) sacrifice fly.

The Trailblazers made it close with three more runs in the top of the sixth, with Quackenbush and Coleman each delivering RBI doubles.

Westfield State starter Sarah Eugenio (9-1) (Marshfield, Mass. /Apponequet) tossed a complete game for her ninth win of the season.   MCLA starter Morgan Watson (3-10) (Portland, OR / Jesuit) took the loss.

In the nightcap, the Owls took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third after Sullivan drove in a run with a fielders' choice and Bri Tortora (Worcester, Mass. / St. Peter Marian) made it home on a wild pitch. Back to back hits from Hughes and Dunbar drove in two more runs to increase the Owls' lead by two to end the inning.

MCLA got on board in the top of the fourth after an RBI double from Quakenbush to make it 4-1. Romano then reached first base on an error and drove in a run to cut the deficit to two.

Westfield added another run in the bottom of the fourth after an RBI double from Kelly to lead 5-2.

MCLA's Quakenbush tripled in the top of the sixth to cut the Owls' lead to 5-3.

The Owls answered with three runs scored by Maddie Keigwin (Sutton, Mass.), Tortora and Liz Kelly (Quincy, Mass. / North Quincy) to extend their lead to 8-3 in the bottom of the sixth.

Sullivan (6-8) earned the win for Owls and allowed four hits with seven strikeouts.

MCLA starter Quakenbush (0-4) took the loss. 

The Owls will host a conference doubleheader against Massachusetts Maritime Academy tomorrow starting at 1:00 p.m.

The Trailblazers host Worcester State on Saturday, April 29th.