Fitchburg State Shuts Down Rhode Island, 5-1/8-2

Solid pitching from Magni, Rivera and Smith leads Falcons to a pair of wins

AUBURNDALE, Fla. (March 11, 2014) – The Fitchburg State baseball team collected another pair of wins this afternoon, downing Rhode Island College, 5-1 and 8-2 in non-conference action at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex.

In the opener, Fitchburg State received a solid outing from junior Ryan Magni (W. Springfield, Mass.) who turned in a complete game effort for the 5-1 victory. Magni yielded just four hits and one run over seven innings of work, while striking out eight and only walking one. The junior right-handed surrendered three hits in the first inning and then held the Anchormen to just one hit over the last six innings.

At the plate, freshman Steven Drury, Jr. (Ashburnham, Mass.) finished a perfect 2-for-2 with a double, one RBI and one run scored, while classmate Mike St. John (Rehoboth, Mass.) added a two hit performance with a double, run scored and one RBI. Newcomer Clayton Beaulieu (Chicopee, Mass.) also added a pair of hits with a run scored and one RBI.

In the night cap, Fitchburg State received a pair of two hit performances from sophomore Javier Lozada (New Bedford, Mass.) and junior Patrick McMahon (S. Windsor, Conn.). Lozada finished the contests a perfect 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run scored, while McMahon added a pair of hits, two runs scored, stolen base and one RBI. Senior David Mason (Leominster, Mass.) chipped in with a hit and two RBI.

On the hill, junior Jose Rivera (Holyoke, Mass.) earned the victory, tossing four strong innings with six hits allowed. Rivera struck out three and walked to en route to his first win of the season. Freshman Tyler Smith (New Milford, Conn.) picked up his second save of the season, tossing three innings of no-hit, shutout relief.

Fitchburg State (6-2, 0-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Thursday as it battles Cazenovia College in a non-conference double header beginning at 9:30 a.m.