Westfield, Mass. – March 25, 2010 – The Springfield College baseball team dropped dropped a close 5-2 decision on the road Thursday as it was bested by Westfield State in a non-conference contest. Brian Harris led Springfield with a 1-for-3 effort with a pair of RBI.

The Owls improved to 8-3 with their sixth straight win. Springfield is 6-5.

Senior first baseman Ben Campbell was 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI and senior designated hitter Kevin Lyons was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI to lead the Owls to victory.

Westfield took a 1-0 first-inning lead and scored single runs in the fifth and sixth innings for a 3-2 lead. Springfield mounted a scoring threat in the eighth inning but only managed a run and left two base runners stranded. Westfield tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth.

Aaron Messier was the winning pitcher, hurling six innings and allowing five hits and two walks while striking out two. Phil Towne entered the game with Springfield threatening in the eighth and notched another pitching save. He allowed one hit and no walks and struck out one.

Westfield out-hit Springfield, 11-7. Jeff Fields was 2 for 4 with two runs scored for the Owls.

No player had more than one hit for the Pride as Harris was 1 for 3 with two RBI. Ryan White tossed five innings of three-hit ball, giving up two runs, one of which was earned, as he was credited with the loss.

The Pride will now gear up for a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon as it hosts Brandeis at 12:00 pm.