Westfield, Mass. (April 10, 2024) – The Golden Bears traveled to Westfield, Massachusetts, for a non-conference doubleheader with the Owls of Westfield State University. Game one saw the Golden Bears get out to a 5-0 lead. The Owls got one run back in the bottom of the fifth. However, the Golden Bears would score five in the top of the sixth and win the game 10-1 in six innings. Madison Mason and Riley Kane each had home runs. Evelyn Picone pitched for the first time as a Golden Bear, pitching four innings, giving up no earned runs, and striking out two batters. Game two saw the Golden Bears get out to a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning and hold onto that lead through the rest of the game. The Golden Bears won game two 3-0 after the game was called due to darkness before the bottom of the sixth inning. Gracie Hemstock led the Golden Bears, going 2-for-3 from the plate. Shelby Parr earned the win from the pitching circle by pitching three innings and letting up no earned runs. 

Records:

Western New England: 12-7 (3-1)

Westfield State University: 14-7-1 (3-1)

Game 1: Western New England 10, Westfield State 1 (Six Innings)

The Golden Bears started Evelyn Picone in the pitching circle for the first time in Picone's Golden Bear career. The Owls started Gianna Conte. Conte got the Golden Bears out one, two, three in the top of the first. The first batter for the Owls walked, but Picone would get the next three out. In the top of the second, Madison Mason turned on a pitch and sent it deep into left field and over the fence for a one-out, solo home run. The Golden Bears led 1-0. The Owls would try to answer with a double and a walk to get two runners on base. However, Picone got the final batter to strike out to keep the Golden Bears in the lead. The top of the third saw Gracie Hemstock put the ball in play. The Owls' shortstop would throw the ball over first base, and Taylor Keegan would score to extend the lead to 2-0. The Owls would get another runner on base in the bottom of the third when Hannah Wodecki doubled to center field. However, Picone got the final out, and the game moved into the fourth inning. 

Conte would sit the Golden Bears down in order, one, two, three, in the top of the fourth. Picone answered by getting out of the inning in the bottom of the fourth, stranding WSU runners on first and second. The fifth inning saw the Golden Bears extend their lead. The Golden Bears had runners on second and third, with two outs when Kailey Carrano walked to the plate. Carrano sent a hit to left field for a single, and the Golden Bears led 4-0. Lizzie Westen would slap a double into left-center field, and the Golden Bears were up 5-0 after Alyssa Poisson scored. Riley Kane would enter the game at pitcher for the Golden Bears. The Owls would respond with a run in the bottom half of the sixth inning.

Kiana Kalman hit a single to left field, and Hannah Wodecki scored. The score was 5-1. WNE would respond in a big way. It started with Alex Ferriouolo doubling to left-center field. Then, Riley Kane sent the ball flying over the left field fence for a first-career home run as a Golden Bear. The score was 7-1. After the Golden Bears got two more runners on base, Taylor Keegan singled to right field, which brought Shea McDaniel home. Then, Gracie Hemstock grounded out, but it brought Kaleigh Blades home to put the Golden Bears up 9-1. Finally, Kailey Carrano singled, and that brought Keegan home. The Golden Bears led 10-1 going into the bottom of the sixth inning. After Emilia Garcia entered the game as the pitcher for the Golden Bears, the Owls got two runners on base with no outs. However, Garcia got the next three batters out, and the Golden Bears won the game 10-1 in six innings of play. 

Around the Diamond:

• The Golden Bears were led at the plate by Taylor Keegan and Kailey Carrano, who each went 2-for-4. Keegan had an RBI and stole a base. Carrano had three RBIs.
• The Golden Bears had four extra-base hits. Lizzie Weston and Alex Ferriouolo had doubles. Madison Mason and Riley Kane had home runs. It was Riley Kane's first career Golden Bear home run.
• The Owls were led by Kiana Kalman, who went 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Victoria Quill, who went 2-for-2 with a walk.
• Hannah Wodecki and Kiana Kalman each had a double for the Owls.
• Gianna Conte pitched six innings for the Owls. Conte picked up two strikeouts and gave up nine earned runs.
• Evelyn Picone picked up a first career win as a pitcher for the Golden Bears. Picone pitched four innings, collected two strikeouts, and gave up no earned runs.
• Riley Kane pitched one inning, giving up one earned run and one hit. Emilia Garcia pitched one inning, giving up no earned runs and one hit.
• The Golden Bears won the game 10-1 in six innings of play.

Game 2: Western New England 3, Westfield State 0 (5 ½ Innings)

Game two saw first-year pitcher Shelby Parr take the pitching circle for the Golden Bears and junior pitcher Katherine Canty take the circle for the Owls. The Golden Bears got the bats started early. It started with a one-out, two-run home run that went over the left-center field fence from Kailey Carrano. Then, with Madison Mason on second, Alex Ferriouolo smacked a double into left field, which hit halfway up the fence. That brought Mason home, and the Golden Bears led 3-0. Canty would get the next two Golden Bear batters out to take the game to the bottom of the first inning. The Owls would get two on in the bottom of the inning, but Parr would get out of the inning by striking out the final batter of the inning. Canty would settle the game down in the second by getting three Golden Bear batters out after walking the first batter. The Owls got another single in the bottom of the second. However, Parr only let up that hit and would get out of the inning without the runner getting home. 

Canty would answer the performance from Parr with a one, two, three inning in the third. The Owls offense looked to gain momentum when Christina Ciampa hit a double to the fence in right-center field. However, after Ciampa tagged on a fly ball to deep center field from Hannah Wodecki, Taylor Keegan would throw the ball to Alex Ferriouolo, who would turn and throw it on a line to Madison Mason at home, who tagged Ciampa sliding into home plate for the double play. The Golden Bears were out of the inning and still leading 3-0. The Golden Bears looked to have a two-out rally going in the fourth inning. However, with runners on second and third, Canty got Taylor Keegan to fly out to left-center field to end the inning. Ava Blanchard would enter the game as the Golden Bears' pitcher in the bottom of the fourth. Outside of a double from Alyssa Clark, Blanchard handled the Owls and kept the score the same. 

Stephanie Scoville entered the game as the Owls' pitcher in the fifth inning. The Golden Bears would get the first batter on base. However, the Owls would turn a double play and get the final out right after that to move the game to the bottom of the fifth inning. The Owls also got a runner on base via a single. However, Blanchard got the final batter to foul out. Scoville kept the Golden Bears off the scoreboard in the top of the sixth, even with the Golden Bears having runners on second and third. The game would be called due to darkness after that out, and the Golden Bears would get the sweep over Westfield State University with the 3-0 win in game two.

Around the Diamond:

• Gracie Hemstock led the Golden Bears at the plate by going 2-for-3.
• Kailey Carrano and Alex Ferriouolo had extra-base hits for the Golden Bears. Carrano had a home run, and Ferriouolo had a double.
• Jordyn Lummus led the Owls by going 2-for-3.
• Alyssa Clark and Christina Ciampa both had doubles for the Owls.
• Katherine Canty pitched four innings for the Owls, giving up three earned runs and striking out two batters. Stephanie Scoville pitched two innings, giving up no earned runs.
• Shelby Parr pitched three innings, giving up no earned runs and striking out one batter to earn the win.
• Ava Blanchard pitched two innings, giving up no earned runs and striking out two batters.
• The Golden Bears won the game 3-0 after the game was called due to darkness in the sixth inning.

Up Next:

• The Golden Bears get a couple of days off before their next doubleheader on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM. They host Roger Williams University.
• The Owls will host Salem State University in conference play on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM.