Salem State Takes Two From Westfield State

WESTFIELD, Mass. --  Salem State swept a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference doubleheader from Westfield State by scores of 5-4 and 4-0 at Bud and Jim Hagan Field on Monday afternoon. Salem improves to 13-14-1 overall and holds a share of the MASCAC lead at 7-1 in conference play.  Westfield drops to 13-15 and 4-4 in the MASCAC.

In the opener, the Vikings scored a pair of runs in the 6th inning to snap a 3-3 tie. Richard Fecteau (Triton Regional/Newbury, Mass.) and Dan Connors (Danvers, Mass.) each delivered an RBI single.

Westfield kept it close in the bottom of the seventh, with two aboard and two out, Anthony Crowley's
(Bellingham, Mass.) ground ball to short was misplayed, allowing Kyle Murphy (Westfield, Mass.) to score from second and cut the lead to 5-4, but pinch-hitter Steven Brown flew out to center to end the game. Salem's Steve Leavitt (Peabody, Mass.) earned the win in relief, with Pete Gonski (East Lyme, Conn.) picking up his first save of the season.  Connors led Salem's offensive attack with three hits, two RBI and a run scored. Fecteau finished with two hits, a double and an RBI.

For Westfield, reliever Tyler Tongue (Minnechaug/Hampden, Mass.) took the loss in relief.  Designated hitter Aaron Clancy (Catholic Memorial/Quincy, Mass.) had a pair of hits and scored a run.

In the nightcap, Salem got all the offense it would need in the first inning, striking for four runs.  Mike Davis (Bishop Fenwick/Peabody, Mass.) led off with a double to deep right center field, Fecteau followed with a walk, and a hitter later Joe White (West Boca Raton/Bellingham, Mass.) smacked a three run home run over the fence in right field.

Jose Cedano (Lawrence, Mass.) walked and later came around to score on a throwing error on the back end of a double steal. Westfield put 10 hits on the scoreboard but couldn't muster a run, stranding two runners in the second and leaving the bases loaded in the fourth, and hitting into a pair of double plays. Christian Morales (Peabody, Mass.), Nate Barnes (Westfield, Mass.) and Tyler Adams (Barnstable/West Barnstable, Mass.) each had a pair of hits for Westfield.

Salem starter Mike Richardson (Belmont, Mass.) (2-2) earned the win, working five innings and scattering nine hits without allowing a run.  Westfield State starter Nick Cunningham (Ashland, Mass.) (2-2) took the loss.

(Courtesy Westfield State Sports Information)