MIT Squeaks Past Fitchburg State, 5-4

Phelan becomes Falcons all-time single season hit leader with 55^th hit of the year

BOSTON, Mass. (May 4, 2009) - The Fitchburg State baseball team suffered a hard fought 5-4 setback to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in non-conference action this afternoon.

Fitchburg State sophomore John Phelan (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) broke into the records books, recording his 55th hit of the season to break the previous mark of 54 set by Brian Mileisen. Phelan finished the contest 1-for-4, while sophomore Brian Ware (Beverly, Mass./Beverly) went 3-for-4 with one run scored. Senior Kris Breen (Griswold, Conn./Griswold) added three more hits for the Falcons, including a double and two RBI.

Fitchburg State controlled the tempo early in the game, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Ware and senior Andy Sauer (Willington, Conn./E.O. Smith) opened the frame with back-to-back singles before Breen stepped in and belted his eighth double of the season to give the Falcons a two-run edge.

MIT chipped away with a single run in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Fitchburg State responded with two runs in the top of the seventh to take a three run lead (4-1). Sauer led the Falcon charge with an RBI single, while senior Aaron Granahan (Thomaston, Conn./Thomaston) plated the other Falcon run.

In the bottom of the frame, MIT started its comeback, plating a pair of runs in both the seventh and eighth innings. Sophomore Brian Doyle (Hopkinton, Mass./Hopkinton) and freshman Bryan Macomber (Los Altos, Calif./Los Altos) notched RBI base-hits to lead the Engineers'' seventh inning rally, while sophomore Dan Hyatt (Wallington, Conn./Loomis Chaffee) plated the game-winning run with an RBI single in the eighth.

Sophomore Mike Scaramellino (Dover Plains, N.Y./Dover Plains) took the loss for the Falcons in relief of Breen who went the first six innings for the Falcons, yielding only one earned run while striking out four. Freshman Kenneth Lin (Castro Valley, Calif./Head-Royce School) earned the victory for the Engineers, tossing one scoreless inning of relief.

Fitchburg State (18-17, 5-9 MASCAC) will be in action again on Wednesday as it has qualified for the 2009 ECAC Tournament The sixth-seeded Falcons will battle third-seeded Wentworth at 4 p.m. The game will be held at Brandeis University.

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