LAKELAND, Fla. --- Senior designated hitter Tim Santilli (Tantasqua HS/Southbridge, Mass.) hit a Westfield State school-record tying three home runs in one game on Tuesday, leading the Owls to a 12-9 slugfest win over Waynesburg (PA) College at Lake Bonny Park.
Santilli and Danny DiMatteo (Cape Cod Tech/Dennis, Mass.) hit back to back home runs in the top of the first inning to stake Westfield to a 3-0 lead.
In the fifth inning, Santilli launched a no-doubt shot to right center that landed 30 feet beyond the outfield fence.
Santilli's ball was lined over the left center field fence for a 2-run blast, while DiMatteo pulled a towering fly ball down the left field line for a solo shot.
Finally in the seventh inning, Santill came up a runner on and the Owls nursing a 10-9 lead. This time he lofted a high fly ball to right center that just cleared the fence for the record-tying third home run, giving Westfield a 12-9 lead.
Junior Pete Liimatainen (Barnstable/West Barnstable, Mass.) came on to pitch the final 1-1/3 innings wih hitless relief to earn the save and preserve the win. Freshman Tyler Tongue (Minnechaug/Hampden, Mass.) picked up the win in relief of starter Nick Cunningham.
Senior third baseman Pat McWilliams (Duxbury/Duxbury, Mass.) finished 4-4 with three runs scored and an RBI, and DiMatteo reached base five times with three hits and two walks.
The game took nearly 3.5 to complete with each team using four pitchers on a sunny, 85-degree day. Westfield State improves to 5-1 this season with the win. Waynesburg falls to 2-4.
Santilli finished 3-5 on the day. He struck out looking in his second at bat, and ripped a one-hopper to second in his fourth at-bat, homering on his first, third, and fifth at bats of the day. He now has four home runs this season, all coming in the last two days.
Santilli had six runs batted in on the day, one short of the Owls' school record.
Dave Bevan holds the school record for most home runs in a game (3 vs. Mass. Maritime in 1979) and most home runs over a two-game (4 in 1979) and three-game (5 in 1979) span. Kevin Greene tied the school record for home runs in a game (3) and also had 6 RBI in a 17-3 victory over Mount Saint Mary (N.Y.) College on March 14, 2012, in Babson Park, Fla.