Blazer Comeback Attempt Comes Up Short

WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Elms College baseball team fell short of erasing a 4-0 deficit at Westfield State on Wednesday night, falling 4-2 to the Owls in non-conference play.

Westfield State's Colin Dunn (Westfield, Mass.) made Elms pitcher Kevin Banas (Hatfield, Mass.) pay for a lead-off walk in the first inning, following the free base with a two-run homer. The Owls (9-8-1) added to the lead with a run in the second and another in the fifth before Elms responded.

The Blazers (3-11) opened the top of the sixth inning with back-to-back singles from Jaeden Rasmus (Bristol, Conn.) and Brandon Bennett (Easthampton, Mass.), who both eventually scored on RBI ground outs from Ben Ross (Thompson, Conn.) and Alex Hoss (Stafford Springs, Conn.), respectively.  

However, a one-out single in the top of the seventh was that last hit the Blazers could manage, as Westfield State hung on for the 4-2 win.

Banas took the loss after throwing three innings and allowing three earned runs. He gave way to Mason Scott (Ludlow, Mass.) who got through three innings while allowing one run, but walked five WSU batters in the process. Michael Luciano (Melrose, Mass.) pitched the seventh and eighth and gave up one hit.

Nate Barnes (Westfield, Mass.) gave the Owls eight strong innings, striking out four and giving up just one earned run before Jamie Butler (Waterbury, Conn.) came in to record his fourth save of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Elms opens a three-game New England Collegiate Conference series against Lesley with a home game against the Lynx on March 29 before closing the series with a double-header at the New England Baseball Complex on March 31.