Worcester, MA --- Junior Ryan Beliveau (Lynn, MA) delivered a two-out single to left field to score freshman Aaron Toomey (Beverly, MA) in the bottom of the ninth inning as he helped propel second-seeded Salem State to a 4-3 triumph over #4 Westfield State in the second elimination game of the MASCAC Tournament Semifinals this afternoon at the Kevin Lyons Baseball Diamond.
The Vikings (28-15) will play top-seeded Worcester State tomorrow in the conference title game at 12 PM in Worcester. Salem State is currently slotted fourth in the latest NCAA Division III New England Regional Rankings.
Westfield State, who staged two late come-from-behind wins in the tournament, ends their campaign at 17-19-1.
Senior Mike Lamothe (Beverly, MA) smashed his first home run of the campaign for a solo shot to help give Salem State the early 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the second.
The Owls responded in the very next frame with a crooked number to take over the 3-1 edge.
Junior Jeremy Tanguay (Huntington, MA) doubled to lead off the frame before sophomore Evan Moorhouse (Westfield, MA) tied up the game with a single up the middle.
Sophomore Tyler Adams (W. Barnstable, MA) then plated Moorhouse with a two-bagger of his own and he advanced to third on the throw from the outfield. Classmate E.G. McMillan (Hopkinton, MA) jacked a sacrifice fly, which scored Adams, to help notch some insurance for Westfield State.
But freshman Tim Woods (Wilmington, MA) put the Vikings on his back by silencing the Owls bats. From the fourth inning on he set down 12 of the next 15 batters he saw until the eighth.
In the top of the eighth, with two men down against a tiring Woods, Adams doubled and he moved to third on an infield single to put runners at the corners. The right hander, however, retired the last batter on a ground out to end the threat.
The effort on the hill in preserving the two-run deficit set the stage for a rally in the bottom of the eighth that saw the Vikings knot up the score 3-3.
Senior Ethan Trowt (Beverly, MA) drove in sophomore Mike Davis (Peabody, MA), who led off the frame with a single and he moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Davis then came around to score on a solo knock up the middle by senior Brett Cahill (Gloucester, MA).
Salem State ended the game in the bottom of the ninth as Toomy started off the rally with an infield safety and Trowt got him to third on another single. Beliveau cranked the second pitch of the at-bat that he saw into left field for the walk-off victory.
Woods (3-0) went the distance and fanned seven while allowing three earned runs and scattering eight hits. He threw 106 pitches to help preserve the bullpen for tomorrow’s must-win championship matchup.
Senior Kevin Zyrkowski (Hingham, MA), who was inserted into the game in the eighth in an attempt to get out of a jam, was dealt the setback in relief for giving up the game-winning score as his record drops to 4-5.
Junior Tommy Nowlan (Williamstown, MA) had a no-decision for the Owls as he tossed seven strong innings allowing three earned runs to go with eight base knocks and two strikeouts.
Beliveua led the charge for the Vikings with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate while Trowt and Cahill both notched two base-knocks each. Adams was the lone multi-hitter with two doubles for Westfield State.
Salem State outhit their counterparts 13-8 as four of Westfield State’s hits went for extra bases.