Westfield, MA --- Junior Matthew Kelly (Weymouth, MA) plated the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth and junior Roman Modalto (Amesbury, MA) hurled two scoreless innings for the win as top-seeded Westfield State defeated #2 Worcester State in the elimination game of the MASCAC Baseball Tournament.
The Owls (21-21) will now play third-seeded Bridgewater State in the championship at 12 PM while the Lancers (23-14) will wait word on a possible ECAC bid on Selection Monday.
Today's contest originally had been halted in the top of the eighth inning due to impending darkness on Saturday following Bridgewater States wild 13-9 win in 13 innings yesterday.
With the momentum from Mondalto leaving the bases loaded in the top of the eighth, the Owls responded with a one-out single from sophomore Andrew Medeiros (Acushnet, MA). Medeiros then stole second before Kelly knocked him in two batters later.
In the top of the ninth, the Lancers threatened with runners on first and second and two outs, but Mondalto would punch out senior Paul Rodriguez (San Antonio, TX) for the final out.
Mondalto improves his record to 7-1 in his first relief appearance while sophomore Shaun Slattery (Gardner, MA) was tagged with the loss as he is now 3-2. Mondalto allowed three hits, struck out two and walked a pair of batters while Slattery gave up a trio of hits, two walks and fanned one.
With Worcester State ahead, 7-2, after a four-run top of the fourth, the Owls would storm back and erase the deficit with a crooked number to knot the game up 7-7.
Senior Pete Hogan (Weymouth, MA) and second-year Kevin Greene (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) both chipped in with RBIs and then junior John Blair (Westfield, MA) would equalize the game with a three-run homer for his second dinger of the season.
With a race against the clock for sunset over the next three innings, Worcester State would leave four men on – including the bases loaded in the top of the seventh – while Westfield State stranded five, four of which were in scoring position, until the game was halted in the eighth.
Westfield State originally started off the game with the quick 2-0 lead off the end of the bat of sophomore Dale Crispin (Stoneham, MA) who jacked out his first home run of the season with a two-run blast.
Worcester State took control of the game with a three-run top of the third as sophomore Chris Creen (Worcester, MA/St. John's) added an RBI single with men on first and second and then Rodriguez gave the Lancers the 3-2 advantage with a two-run double.
The Blue and Gold built up the lead to 7-2 with four trips to the plate in the fourth. With the bases juiced, Creen notched an RBI on a fielder's choice before Rodriguez followed with another two-run double. Junior Kyle Wilson (Norwich, CT) would cap off the frame for the visitors with a run producing double.
The games two starters both had no decisions. Owl senior Sean Keane (Brockton, MA) went four innings allowing seven runs on seven hits to go along with two walks and three strikeouts.
Lancer junior Cruz Rosado (Clinton, MA/Worcester Tech) went five 2/3 innings yielding seven runs on nine hits with five walks, a hit batter and six punch-outs. Rosado left the sixth with runners on the corners before handing off the ball to Slattery, who got the final out to end the frame.