Hummer Records 100th Career Strikeout in Split with Westfield State

WESTFIELD, Mass. (March 26, 2022) ­– The Western New England baseball team saw starting pitcher Kevin Hummer collect his 100^th career strikeout in a Golden Bears uniform in game one of the doubleheader with the hosting Westfield State University Owls, as WNE would split with Westfield State. The Golden Bears would take game one by a final score of 4-2, while a walk off win for the Owls would send them to a 5-4 win in game two. 

Records:

• Western New England: 7-5
• Westfield State: 7-5

Game 1: Western New England 4, Westfield State 2

The Golden Bears, who dropped an 8-5 contest to the Owls in their home opener less than 24 hours ago, looked to get revenge on Westfield State as they picked up two runs in the first inning to get the game started. Henry Schowerer led the game off with a single to right field, while Sean Jamieson would connect on a single in the infield to quickly put two aboard for the Golden Bears. Schowerer would come around the bases and score on a wild pitch to get the Golden Bears on the board early. Ben Harrison would single in CJ Willis after Willis would reach on a fielder's choice to give WNE a quick 2-0 lead. The Owls wasted little time to get a run back as they were able to get an RBI single in the bottom of the inning, though a groundout to shortstop would end the inning in the bottom of the first to end the threat, as the Golden Bears held on to a 2-1 lead after one inning of play.

Western New England would get their run back in the top of the second inning after Paul Villecco singled up the middle with one out in the inning and swiped a bag to get into scoring position. Schowerer would come through with an RBI single to center field to give Western New England a 3-1 lead. In the bottom of the second, looking for just strikeout to reach the 100 carrer strikeout plateau, Kevin Hummer would get Damien Maniscalo swinging, becoming part of the Western New England Baseball pitchers to reach 100 career strikeouts. Hummer would dial it in after three innings of play, striking out three Owls. 

After a scoring hiatus through the middle innings, Western New England would see the Owls come through with run in the bottom of the 6^th inning on a RBI walk to Nick Martin to send the game to just a 3-2 advantage for the Golden Beats with two outs in the inning. Hummer would get Ethan Day swinging to end the threat and end the line for the 100-strikeout pitcher who finished the day going six innings, giving up five hits and two runs while walking and striking out six Owls. Western New England would collect an insurance run the top of the 7^thinning when Aaron Cole reached on a fielder's choice to score Jamieson, giving WNE a 4-2 lead. Jared Kuran would come into the final inning, getting a line out, fly out, and strike out to end the contest, sending WNE to a 4-2 victory over Westfield State. 

Around the Diamond:

• Henry Schowerer and Sean Jamieson combined for five hits in eight at-bats for the Golden Bears collecting an RBI. 
• Ben Harrison went 2-4 in the contest, also collecting a single RBI. 
• Jared Kuryan picked up his fourth save of the season. 

Game 2: Westfield State 5, Western New England 4

As they did in game one, Western New England would score their first two runs of the contest in the top of the first inning. Sean Jamieson would be put aboard via a walk before CJ Willis would come around and connect for his 5^th home run of the season, giving Western New England the early 2-0 lead. Similarly, Westfield State would respond for a run in the bottom half in the inning after a double from Ethan Day would score a run for Westfield State, giving the Golden Bears a one run lead after one inning of play.

Westfield State would quickly turn the game around and picked up their first lead of the afternoon in the bottom of the second inning when Damien Maniscalo came through with a two out, two RBI single to give the Owls a 3-2 lead. 

Western New England wouldn't be down for long, as the Golden Bears came back with two runs of their own in the top half of the fourth inning. Ben Harrison would fly out to the centerfield, scoring Jake Balderston on a SAC fly. Henry Schowerer would come around to score on the same play on an error by the Owls shortstop, allowing the Golden Bears to take a 4-3 lead. SP Robert Zawacki would come around to shut down the Owls in his final two innings of work as Zawacki went six innings on the afternoon, giving up just three hits to Westfield State, three runs (two earned), as well as walking and striking out three each. Jared Kuryan would come into the contest for the second straight game, looking to register his second save of the afternoon, and fifth save of the season. The Owls would be all over Kuryan this time around and would quickly fill the bases with nobody out before Nate Florence came through with a two RBI single to left center field for a walk off win for Westfield State, coming away with a 5-4 victory over the Golden Bears. 

Around the Horn: 

• Western New England mustered just three hits in game two, as CJ Willis came up with two RBIs on a home run in the first inning. 
• Robert Zawacki registered a quality start after going six innings for WNE. Jared Kuryan falls to 0-1 on the season and picks up his first blown save of the campaign.

Up Next on the Schedule:

• WNE begins conference play on Tuesday, March 29 as they host Nichols College from Trelease Park at 3:30 pm.
• Westfield State heads to Coast Guard for a 3:30 pm first pitch on Wednesday, March 30.