Golden Bears Record 14 Hits in 11-2 Victory over Westfield State

Photo is courtesy of Western New England

Western New England extends winning streak to five games

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Four different Golden Bears posted multi-hit efforts as the Western New England University baseball team rolled to an 11-2 non-conference victory over Westfield State University this afternoon at Trelease Park.

Western New England (15-4, 4-0 CCC) put four runs on the board in the third inning and broke the game open with five more in the sixth en route to the team's fifth consecutive victory. Westfield State was limited to five hits in the loss, dropping to 12-12 (3-1 MASCAC) this spring.

Fueled by a combined 8-for-16 performance from the first four players in its batting order, Western
New England reached the 10-run mark for the sixth time this season. Senior outfielder Doug Milne (Nesconset, N.Y.) led the way, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and four RBI.  Freshman outfielder Erik Lacaire (Worcester, Mass.) reached base four times out of the leadoff spot, recording two walks and two singles to go with two runs scored and one RBI. Senior shortstop Kevin Marciano (Pepperell, Mass.) turned in a 3-for-5 effort with two runs and one RBI, while freshman infielder Alex Loparco (Riverside, Conn.) went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI.

Sophomore righthander Jake Kawiecki (Burlington, Conn.) got the start for the Golden Bears and tossed four strong innings, earning the win after allowing just one run on two hits. Freshman lefty Sean Halligan (Branford, Conn.) followed with an impressive effort in relief, giving up just one run on three hits over the final five frames to earn his first collegiate save. Halligan struck out one batter and did not issue a walk.

Senior Danny DeMatteo (Dennis, Mass.) paced the Owls offensively with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate, while also drawing a walk and scoring a run. Freshman Aaron Clancy (Quincy, Mass.) recorded a sacrifice fly, and junior Arismendy Larancuent (Westfield, Mass.) singled in his only at-bat.

After leaving three runners on base over the first two innings, Western New England broke through with four runs in the bottom of the third. Lacaire and Marciano got it started with consecutive singles, and a subsequent Westfield State error loaded the bases with no outs.

Milne plated the first two runs of the game with a double into the gap in left center, and freshman Ben LaCroix (Branford, Conn.) followed two batters later with another two-run double to left center.

After each team scored one run in the fourth, the Golden Bears opened up a 10-1 lead in the sixth with five runs in the frame. Milne made the most of his second bases loaded opportunity, driving in two runs with a single up the middle, and Loparco delivered a two-run double to left field later in the inning after LaCroix recorded an RBI groundout.

Western New England added another run in the seventh, before the Owls capped the scoring on senior Evan Moorhouse's (Westfield, Mass.) RBI groundout in the eighth.