Anna Maria Shocks Fitchburg State, 15-14

Bamforth leads Falcons with 2-for-6 performance, two runs scored and three RBI

WORCESTER, Mass. (March 20, 2012) – Junior Cody Bamforth (Rockville, Conn./Vernon) went 2-for-6with two runs scored and three RBI but the Fitchburg State baseball team fell to Anna Maria, 15-14 in non-conference action this afternoon.

After falling behind 3-0 through two innings of play, Fitchburg State exploded for four runs in the top of the third inning to take a 4-3 lead. Junior Andrew Tremley (Bristol, Conn./Bristol) started the rally with a double and later scored as Bamforth connected for a two-run single through the left side. Sophomore David Mason (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) capped the rally with a two-run single to left.

The AMCATs touched for a single run in the bottom of the fourth, using a Mike Gaurnieri (Wallingford, Conn./Sheehan)  walk and sacrifice fly from Joe McNeil (Sutton, Mass./Sutton) but the Falcons responded again, tacking on two more runs in the fifth with back-to-back double from Frank Yavorosky (Westminster, Mass./Narragansett) and Bamforth.

Anna Maria inched closer in the bottom of the fifth, posting one run with a sacrifice fly by Carlos Ortiz (Worcester, Mass./South), bringing the score to 7-5. The AMCATs then completed the comeback the very next inning, rallying for five runs on four hits, including a grand slam homerun from senior Jeff Scafidi (Worcester, Mass./Burncoat).

The AMCATS stretched their lead to six in the bottom of the seventh inning, recording a trio of runs for a 13-7 lead, but the Falcons didn't quit, loading the bases in the top of the ninth for a seven run rally. Fitchburg State posted seven runs on three hits, two walks, and two AMCAT errors, including a timely two-run hit from sophomore Patrick McMahon (S. Windsor, Conn./S. Windsor), but Anna Maria rebounded in the bottom of the inning, securing the victory with a pair of runs.

Junior Pat Mercier (Townsend, Mass./Saint Bernards) suffered the loss for the Falcons (0-2), yielding two earned runs and three hits over 1.1 IP while starter Tynan Flegg (Calgary, AB/National Sport Academy) scattered six hits and five runs over the first five innings. Davis earned the victory for the AMCATs, yielding one run over 0.1 IP.

The 3-and-4 hitters for Anna Maria did most of the offensive damage, combining for an 8-for-9 afternoon with five runs scored and ten RBI. Guarnieri continued his hot hitting, finishing 4-for-4 with four runs scored and four RBI, including the game-winner, while Scafidi capped the afternoon with a 4-for-5 performance, a run scored and a game-high six RBI.

Mason led all Falcon hitters with three hits on the afternoon, while Yavorosky, Bamforth and Randy Ortiz (Danielson, Conn./Killingly) added two hits apiece. Junior Jeff Boice (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) added a triple in the setback for the Falcons.

Fitchburg State (1-8, 0-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Thursday as it travels to Newbury College at 7 p.m. Anna Maria (5-6, 0-0 GNAC) will visit Becker College tomorrow at 4 p.m.