WESTFIELD, Mass. – Sophomore first baseman Jeff Boice (Glastonbury, Conn.) slugged a grand slam home run in the opener and was 3 for 5 with two RBI in the second game to lead Fitchburg State University to a 4-2, 12-1 sweep of Westfield State University on Saturday, April 30.

Westfield, 18-19 overall, had clinched the MASCAC regular season baseball championship prior to its final conference games of the season vs. Fitchburg. The Owls are 11-3 and will host the MASCAC Tournament next weekend, beginning with a semifinal round game on Thursday.

Fitchburg finishes its season 16-18 and 6-8; the Falcons did not qualify for the four-team postseason tournament.

Boice broke open a scoreless pitching duel in opener with his two-out bases loaded home run off Westfield ace pitcher Roman Mondalto, who sustained his first loss of the season.

In the top of the fifth, Brian Ware reached on a one-out infield single and went to second on Ed DiMauro's single to right-center. John Phelan reached safely on a bunt fielder's choice that loaded the sacks as the Owls were unable to get the forceout at third base.

After a fielder's choice forceout at home for the second out, Boice smacked his game-winning circuit shot over the leftfield fence.

Westfield scored a run in the bottom of the fifth when Chad Snow walked, advanced to second on a wild pitch, moved to third on Pete Hogan's single and scored on Pete Grillo's groundout.

The Owls threatened in the seventh but left the bases loaded. Matt Kelly rapped a one-out single and Grillo singled through the right side, moving Kelly to third. Kevin Greene rapped an RBI single to make it 4-2 and Tim Heintz singled to right field to load the bases. But Josh Blair struck out swinging on a high 3-2 offering to end the game.

Both teams collected eight hits. Hogan was Westfield's only player with more than one hit, going 2 for 3. Boice also doubled and Brian Ware whacked a double and single.

Winning pitcher Michael Mercier went the distance. He struck out six and issued only one walk. Mondalto was yanked after giving up the home run. He allowed five hits and one walk and struck out four. Connor Buckley pitched two and a third innings of scoreless relief, fanning two.

In the second game, Fitchburg broke open the game by scoring four runs in both the sixth and seventh innings.

Phelan paced the Falcons' 19-hit onslaught, going 3 for 4 with a triple, three RBI and three runs scored. Dave Alexander 3 for 5 with two RBI, including a solo homer to stake the Falcons to a 1-0 second-inning lead.

Boice was 3 for 5 with two RBI to finish the day with five hits and six RBI. Cody Bamforth was 3 for 4 with a double and three runs scored.

Westfield had five hits. Greene was 2 for 3 with a double and Kelly doubled.

Winning pitcher Alex Teal struck out 11 and walked one during his five-hit complete game. Bret Siflinger suffered the setback for Westfield.