WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The solid pitching and strong hitting continued for Westfield State, as the Owls posted their seventh-straight win by sweeping a doubleheader from Centenary College (N.J) on Friday morning at Chain O'Lakes Park.
Nate Barnes (1-1) spun a complete game in game 1, a 9-2 win, and Nate Marshall (2-0) answered the bell in the second game as Westfield won by a 9-3 final.
In the opener, the Owls led 2-1 after an inning, but broke the game open with four runs in the top of the fourth. Tyler Beach roped a 2-run double and Colin Dunn later plated Beach with a sacrifice fly to center to lead 6-1. Westfield added two more in the fifth and one in the sixth to provide Barnes with plenty of breathing room.
The Owls senior lefthander scattered eight hits and gave up just one earned run while striking out seven. He did not allow a free pass in the game. Barnes worked 1-2-3 sixth and seventh innings, stiking out three of the final six hitters.
Five Westfield State players picked up a pair of hits in the game.
In the nightcap, Marshall was equally effective, scattering nine hits and striking out six without allowing a walk.
In the third inning, Alex Benevides delivered the knockout blow with a two-run base hit to right. Colin Dunn finished with three hits in the game, including a double, and a quartet of Owls rapped out a pair of hits each. Dunn finished the twin bill 5-7at the plate with a pair of doubles, three runs scored and two rbi.
Westfield State improves to 8-2 on the season. The Owls wrap up their 11-game spring trip with a game against perrenially strong Wisconsin-Stevens Point tomorrow morning.
Centenary fell to 1-8 with the two losses.