WESTFIELD, Mass. – Zack Dandrea was 2 for 3 with three runs scored and an RBI and Jeff John had three RBI, including a two-run homer, to lead Western Connecticut State University to a 10-4 non-conference baseball victory over Westfield State University on Tuesday, March 27.
 
Western Connecticut (7-9) only outhit Westfield (6-8) by a 6-4 count but the Colonials took advantage of 10 walks issued by Owl pitchers on the cold and blustery day.
 
The Colonials led 2-1 when they began pulling away by scoring two runs in the fourth and fourth in the fifth to take an 8-1 lead. Western's two fourth-inning runs were scored on an infield throwing error and a wild pitch.
 
The Colonials scored their four runs in the fifth frame on just two hits, a bloop RBI single by Dandrea and an RBI double by Conor Bierfeldt. Their final two fifth-inning runs came on a walk and a hit batter with the bases loaded.
 
Westfield cut the deficit to 8-4 fifth inning on a three-run homer by Josh Blair. But Western Connecticut responded with two insurance runs in the seventh on a two-run homer over the leftfield fence by the 5-7, 160-pound shortstop John.
 
Dandrea was the only player for either team with multiple hits. Westfield freshman first baseman Dan Rokitowski ripped an RBI double in the first inning. Mike Yates clubbed an RBI double to give the Colonials a 2-1 third-inning lead.
 
Two Zacks handled the pitching chores for Western. Zak Philippas hurled the first six innings (1 earned run, 3 hits, 7 walks, 4 strikeouts) for the victory. Zack Taylor allowed one hit in three effective innings of relief to earn the save.
 
Tommy Nowlan, the first of five Owl pitchers, was credited with the loss.