Baseball Ties Westfield; MIT Doubleheader Moved to Sunday
Paul Galligan
WPI 8, Westfield State 8 (Tied Game called after 10 Innings
Worcester, MA --- WPI rallied with four runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to force an 8-8 tie with visiting Westfield State in non-conference baseball action on Friday afternoon. The two teams played a scoreless tenth inning before the game was called due to darkness.
With the result, WPI is now 12-13-1 overall while Westfield sees its nine game winning streak come to an end, but extends its unbeaten streak to 10. The Owls are now 14-6-1 on the season.
Trailing 8-4 entering the ninth inning, Scott McNee (Falmouth, MA) sliced the advantage in half with a one-out single down the left field line that plated Bryan Watkins (Belmont, MA) and Mike Swanton (Foxboro, MA). After a Cody McGregor (Westfield, MA) double put two runners in scoring position, Paul Galligan (Weymouth, MA) delivered a two-run double to left center to tie the contest. Following an intentional walk, Westfield reliever Josh Perches (Albany, NY) notched a pair of strikeouts to force extra innings.
Just minutes earlier, the Owls used some late-inning magic of their own, tallying four runs in the eighth inning and two more in the ninth to turn a 4-2 deficit into an 8-4 advantage. Jeff Fields (Pittsfield, MA) played a major role in both rallies, collecting a pair of two-run singles, including one as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning. CaCagney Turner (Carleton Place, Ontario) chipped in with a key run-producing single.
Both teams got strong efforts from their starters. Lyle Miller (Milford, CT) yielded two runs over seven strong innings for WPI while Steve Burndrett (Westford, MA) allowed three earned runs over the first five frames.
McGregor paced all players with three hits on the day. Watkins, Swanton, McNee, Galligan and Matt Moreau (Manchester, NH) all had two hits for the Engineers while Ben Wagner (Cumberland, RI), Mike Trachtenberg (Newton, MA) and Adam Franke (Monson, MA) registered a pair of a base knocks for the Owls. WSC shortstop Justin Parr (North Attleboro, MA) saw his 20-game hitting snapped despite reaching base three times (walk and 2 HBP).
Both teams return to conference play this weekend. WPI will play at MIT in a NEWMAC doubleheader at noon on Sunday (moved from Saturday). Westfield State entertains Worcester State in a key MASCAC twinbill scheduled for noon on Saturday.