Fitchburg State Runs Past WPI, 17-10

Bombria lifts Falcons with six innings pitched of shutout relief

WORCESTER, Mass. (April 11, 2011) – In a game that saw 27 total runs, sophomore Zachary Bombria (Bolton, Conn./Bolton) hurled six scoreless innings of relief to help the Fitchburg State baseball team overcome a 10-1 deficit to defeat WPI 17-10 this afternoon.

Down 10-1, the Falcons began to rally as sophomore Cody Bamforth (Vernon, Conn./Rockville) led off the fourth inning with a double and scored following a wild pitch and a Matt Zajac (New Hartford, Conn./St. Paul) single to center. In the sixth inning, Zajac launched a two-run homer to slice into the hosts' advantage to 10-4.

Fitchburg State took the lead in the seventh with a nine-run spurt beginning with a Dave Alexander (Torrington, Conn./Torrington) three-run shot to center field. Freshman David Mason (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) crossed home plate following a wild pitch before senior Erik DiMauro (Foxboro, Mass./Foxboro) singled in a run and John Phelan (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) earned a RBI walk. Junior Frank Yavorosky (Westminster, Mass./Narragansett) added to the rally with a two-run single, before another wild pitch allowed Brian Ware (Beverly, Mass./Beverly) to score.

Fitchburg State sealed its victory in the later innings, posting four runs over the final two frames. Yavorosky cashed in again, this time notching a three-run double in the eighth, before Zajac doubled in a run for the final score of the day in the ninth.

Bombria picked up the win (1-0) in relief for the Falcons, scattering three hits over six innings and striking out six. Junior Perry Russo (East Hartford, Conn./East Hartford) started the contest for the Falcons, lasting only the first third of an inning before giving way to freshman Pat Mercier (Townsend, Mass./Saint Bernards) who tossed the next 2.2 innings.

At the plate, Zajac led the Falcons going 4-for-6 with four RBI and two runs scored, while Yavorosky was not far behind with a 3-for-6 performance, five RBI and one run scored. Alexander, Bamforth and DiMauro were also solid, recording two hits apiece on the afternoon.

Fitchburg State (9-11, 1-3 MASCAC) returns to action tomorrow as it travels to Rivier College at 5:30 p.m. WPI (11-17, 7-7 NEWMAC) will visit Clark University tomorrow at 3 p.m.