WESTFIELD, Mass. -- Framingham State rode a big early lead to a 9-6 win over Westfield State University in the first game of the MASCAC baseball championship. The Rams, who fought their way back from the loser's bracket with a 9-5 win over Salem State earlier in the day, forced a winner-takes-all showdown with the Owls on Monday at 2:00 p.m. for the conference title and the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Playoffs.
Against Westfield, the Rams struck for seven runs in the first two innings. Kyle Dembrowski drove in two with a base hit to center in the first inning, and in the second inning Kyle Pileski drove in one with a double and Kyle Lippert plated two more with a base hit.
The Rams tacked on two more in the fourth inning to lead 9-0.
Westfield sparked to life in the fifth inning with a five-run rally. John Lippincott launched a two-run double to the alley in right center field, and Owls junior All-New England centerfielder Anthony Crowley ripped a three-run home run deep over the left field fence to get the Owls back in the game at 9-5.
Crowley added a solo home run that he wrapped around the foul pole in left in the ninth for the final margin. The homer was Crowley's 12th of the season, tying the Owls single season record, set by Dave Bevan in 1979. Crowley also broke Bevan's record for total bases, and Crowley has 105 total bases this season. Crowley has 55 rbi on the season, one short of Moose Lyons record of 56 set in 2010.
Framingham got an outstanding start from Kyle Hodson, who worked 8 innings and over 100 pitches on one day's rest. Hodson (4-3) earned the win, allowing five runs and striking out eight.
Framingham outfielder Kyle Pileski finished 3-5 with 3 runs scored. Catcher Jordan Pallazola finished with a pair of hits and two rbi.
Jamie Butler (1-3) took the loss for the Owls. Tyler Beach rapped out three hits for the Owls, Crowley finished 2-4, with two runs scored and four RBI on the two bombs, and Jake Gibb added a pair of hits.
Framingham 9, Salem 5
In the elimination game earlier in the day, Framingham defeated Salem State 9-5 to get into the championship round. Senior Mike Andrews (7-3) tossed a 120-plus pitch complete game on two days' rest, scattering 11 hits and four earned runs while striking out eight
Salem got on the board first with a run in the top of the first, getting singles from MacDaniel Singleton and Chris Rebello. The runners moved up on a wild pitch and singleton scored on Alex Toomey's fielder's choice chopper to short.
Framingham answered with a run in the bottom of the inning, as Aaron Williams singled, advanced to third on a failed pickoff attempt, and scored on Cameron Borelli's pop singled down the left field line.
The Rams added four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, the big blow an RBI triple from DH Cameron Borrelli.
Framingham led 7-1 before Salem hung two runs on the board in the top of the fifth on RBI singles from Singleton and Toomey to cut the lead to 7-3.
The Rams responded with two more in the bottom half of the inning to lead 9-3.
Borrelli finished 3-5 with two RBI, and Kyle Lippert added a single, a double and a triple in four at bats and scored two runs for Framingham.
Starter Joshua Bell (0-2) took the loss for Salem. Singleton, Jose Cedano and Shawn Rebello each had a pair of hits.
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