Springfield, Mass. - March 31, 2019 - The Springfield College baseball team was able to best visting Westfield State, 8-2, in a non-conference make-up game on Sunday afternoon at Archie Allen Field. The win bumps the Pride's record to 9-8 and the loss drops the Owls to 9-5.

Behind a monster first inning capped off by an Alex Denoyelle (Woonsocket, R.I.) grand slam,the Pride were able to claim its ninth win of the young season. Denoyelle's longball marks the fourth game in a row that a Springfield hitter has cleared the wall, the longest streak in the last decade for the Pride.

Springfield got off to a hot start as they were able to plate three of the first four batters that came to the plate in the game. Following a pair of walks and a base hit, Denoyelle would launch his second home run of the weekend over the left-field wall to give the Pride a 7-0 cushion to start off the game.

Following a run-scoring second for the Owls, Springfield would add one more to its scoring total as Jason Bean (Middleboro, Mass.) was able to find a hole on the left side of the field and drive home Mark Joao (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) to put the score at 8-1 heading into the third frame. The game remained quiet on the offensive side for Springfield from the second inning on as they did not plate another run in the final six frames of play. 

Sophomore Noah Bleakley (Granby, Mass.) took the ball on the bump for Springfield as he was able to hold Westfield to just two hits over five very strong innings while striking out a career-high eight batters. Zach Kerr (Niskayuna, N.Y.) came on in relief of Bleakley in the top of the sixth. Kerr would navigate some trouble as he allowed a run on two extra base hits before bouncing back and striking out an Owl to end the sixth with the score 8-2. Kerr was again able to subdue the threat of baserunner as he was able to get out of the eighth inning unscathed after allowing the first two batters of the inning to reach base. Ben Arnold (Deerfield, Mass.) would come in to get the final three outs for the Pride and ensure a 8-2 margin of victory on Sunday afternoon.

Springfield College will now return to Archie Allen on Tuesday, April 2 for a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) battle with Wheaton. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.

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