Fitchburg State Falls At Salem State, 2-0/5-4

Falcons blanked in game one, 2-0; edged 5-4 in nightcap

SALEM, Mass. (April 27, 2013) – The Fitchburg State baseball team concluded its 2013 season this afternoon after being edged in a pair of MASCAC contests, 2-0 and 5-4 with Salem State University.

In game one, Salem State's starting pitcher Ryan Sharp (Townsend, MA) shutout Fitchburg State, 2-0 to remain unbeaten on the season in earning his fifth win. The Vikings scored the only runs of the game in the second when Richard Fectaeu (Newbury, MA) blasted a triple to centerfield, and came home on a double by Ryan Beliveau (Lynn, MA).  Kevin Salines (Melrose, MA) then knocked in another run for the Vikings with a single up the middle.

In the sixth inning the Falcons threatened, but Kyle McElroy (Newburyport, MA) caught a well hit ball in left field, and gunned out a Falcons runner at the plate to end the inning.

Andrew Guido (Peabody, MA), who replaced Sharp in the seventh with two outs, earned his third save of the season, gaining the final out on a groundout with two runners on. Sharp went 6.2 innings, scattering five, with one walk, and two strikeouts.  Patrick Mercier (Townsend, MA) pitched well in defeat, going six innings and allowing just two runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout.

Junior Matt Zajac (New Hartford, CT) led the Falcons offensively, hitting 3-for-3 in the opener.

Salem State opened the scoring in game two when Brett Cahill (Gloucester, MA) singled and brought home Salines, who had doubled. The Falcons generated a run in the fourth when Alex Heroux (Leominster, MA), singled, and advanced to second base on a sac-bunt. He then stole third, and came home on a Cody Bamfort (Vernon, CT) triple to tie the game at 1-1. 

Vikings' starter Ed Deren  (Westford, MA) pitched four innings and gave up a run on four hits with one strikeout before being replaced by Sean Buckland  (Lynn, MA) in the fifth.

In the fifth, Zajac walked to leadoff the inning and, Pierce Hans (Washington Township, NJ) followed with a hit to put runners on first and second. A sacrifice bunt and intentional walk loaded the bases, and Mike Davis (Peabody, MA) came in to replace Buckland, who induced a double play to end the threat.

Bamforth broke the stalemate in the sixth, when after hitting a single, he scored on a hit by Fitchburg State's Joseph Balboni (Townsend, MA).  However, in the sixth, Salem State's Genaro Ciulla (Peabody, MA) answered with a two-run double to knock in two runs to regain the lead for the Vikings.

Guido came on in the seventh to nail down the victory, but Fitchburg State rallied for two runs to take a 4-3 lead. Hans walked, and a fielder's choice put two runners on. Pinch runner Rafael Figuereo (Dorchester, MA) advanced to third on a passed ball, and scored on an errant throw to second trying to get AJ Silberman (Meridien, CT) who was attempting to steal. Bamforth added another run-producing single to give the Falcons a two-run lead. 

The Vikings again answered in the bottom of the frame as Bill Cataldo (Reading, MA) sparked the rally with a pinch-hit single. Steve Buitkus (Reading, MA) reached on an error to put runners on first and third before Salines tied the game with a base-hit. Cahill delivered a game-winning sacrifice fly to left.

Starter Zachary Bombria (Bolton, Conn.) took the loss after going six and two thirds, and giving up eight hits, five runs and a walk with four strikeouts. Guido picked up his third win, pitching an inning in relief, and giving up two runs on a hit with two walks, and a strikeout.

Fitchburg State concludes the 2013 season with an overall record of 14-21-1 and a 4-10 mark in the MASCAC.