Baseball Draws Split With Westfield State To Open MASCAC Play

Westfield, MA --- Westfield State junior Roman Mondalto (Amesbury, MA) struck out 10 in the opener and Worcester State's Nick Gezotis (Wetfield, MA) rapped a walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the seventh in the second game as the MASCAC rivals split a doubleheader, 8-2, 9-8, this afternoon in Westfield.

The Owls are now 7-12 overall and 1-1 in the MASCAC while Worcester State is 10-6 and 1-1 in league play.

Mondalto - a junior transfer from Northern Essex Community College - pitched a complete game six-hitter in the opener. The crafty southpaw walked two in addition to his 10 Ks in the seven-inning game.

Westfield gave Mondalto a 2-0 second-inning lead on a pair of bases loaded walks. Worcester got a run back when senior Paul Rodriguez (San Antonio, TX) hit a wind-blown home run to left field. 

The Owls scored in each of their final four at bats. Senior and #9 hitter Sean Geary (S. Yarmouth, MA) made it 4-1 in the fourth with a two-run homer to left field. Westfield scored two more runs in the fifth on four hits, with sophomore Andrew Medeiros (Acushnet, MA) delivering an RBI double and senior Jeff Ackerman (Beverly, MA) rapping an RBI single. Westfield scored an unearned run in the sixth on a passed ball and its final run in the seventh on an RBI single by sophomore Tim Heintz (Ellington, CT).

Gezotis laced an RBI double in Worcester's final at bat. The Lancers had runners at second and third when Mondalto got a groundout to end the game.

Westfield banged 12 hits in the opener. Geary was 2 for 2 with three RBI and two runs scored and Medeiros was 3-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI. Heintz and Kevin Greene (Westford, MA) both had two singles.

Senior Johno Hinkell (N. Adams, MA) was the only player with more than one hit for the Lancers, going 2-for-3. Fourth-year Chad Kasik (Dudley, MA) was dealt his first setback of the season after he yielded six runs (four earned) on nine hits as he finished with three walks and a pair of strikeouts.  

In the second game, Westfield jumped out to a 5-0 first-inning lead, sending nine batters to the plate and collecting six hits, all singles.

But Worcester responded by putting up a six spot in the second for a 6-5 lead.  The big blows were a two-out three-run double by senior Corey McDonald (Hudson, MA) followed by a two-run homer by classmate Nick Fluegge (Ware, MA). 

The Owls scored three runs in the fourth to take an 8-6 lead. Greene and Geary led off the inning with back-to-back triples. Junior Matt Kelly (Weymouth, MA) walked and senior Pete Grillo (Shewsbury, MA) sacrificed him to second, with Geary holding and third. Medeiros then slapped a two-run single thru the left side of the infield.

The Lancers – the designated home team for the twinbill – scored a run in the bottom of the sixth to close within a run, 8-7. They rapped three singles with junior Tyler McElman (Marlboro, MA) lacing a two-out RBI single.

Hinkell led off the last-inning rally when he reached safely on an infield throwing error. Junior Joe Eramo (Shirley, MA) was hit by a pitch then the Owls brought in reliever Aaron Messier (New Bedford, MA). 

Second-year Chris Creen (Worcester, MA/St John's) sacrificed the runners to second and third then Gozotis delivered his game-winning hit, a two-strike looping single to right field that easily scored both runners.

Westfield State outhit Worcester, 12-11. Gezotis was 2-for-5 with two RBI and Fluegge was 2 for 3 with two RBI. Rodriguez was 2 for 4 with a double and McElman rapped two singles.

Every player hit safely for Westfield. Medeiros was 2-for-3 with two RBI to finish the day with five hits. Greene was 2 for 3 his triple and Alex Cloutier was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Sophomore closer Shaun Slattery (Gardner, MA) – who replaced senior starter Bobby DeVito (Webster, MA) in the fourth inning – was the winning pitcher. He allowed two hits and no walks and struck out four in four complete innings. 

Second-year Bret Siflinger (Framingham, MA) was tagged with the loss; he hurled five full innings, striking out six and walking one. Fourth-year Nick Noblit (Westfield, MA) was yanked after walking the first three batters in the second inning.

Release Courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information