Fitchburg State Drops Pair to Vikings
Salem, Mass. - Fitchburg State was defeated by Salem State in both games of a Massachusetts State Collegiate Conference (MASCAC) baseball doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the Central Campus Baseball Field.
Salem State, which tied with Mass Maritime and Worcester State with identical 8-4 records, will await their seeding in the upcoming MASCAC post-season tournament. The Vikings improve to 21-12 while the Falcons (11-16) slip to 4-8 in conference.
Game One
Cato LaCroix started game one and pitched a gem, outdueling Fitchburg State's Kyle Cutler in the 1-0 Vikings' win.
Lacroix went the distance as he allowed just two hits without a walk and seven strikeouts in improving to 3-1 on the year. Cutler (4-2) suffered the tough luck loss, allowing just a run on seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
Richard Fecteau provided the only offense with a ground-rule double in the fifth inning that scored Andrew Deloury, who had led off the inning with a single.
Roel Fernandez doubled in the sixth and reached third with two outs as Fitchburg State threatened to tie the game. However, Lacroix ended the inning with a strikeout and retired the Falcons in order in the seventh to preserve the win.
Game Two
Salem State's Sean Buckland and Fitchburg State's Ryan Magni followed the lead of game one as both pitchers posted zero's on the scoreboard through the first five innings.
In the sixth, the Vikings' Dan Connors doubled and following a sacrifice bunt, scored on a wild pitch for the game's first run. However, this time the Falcons battled back and rallied to take a 2-1 lead in the seventh. Clayton Beaulieu led off with a single, a sacrifice moved him to second as Salem State went to the bullpen and brought in reliever Matt Turmenne.
Fernandez then singled and stole second to put runners on second and third. Donald Geloso drove in the tying run, forcing another pitching change, as Mike Richardson entered the game with one out. Steven Drury Jr. then delivered a sacrifice fly that gave Fitchburg State a 2-1 lead.
Salem State though responded in the bottom of the seventh, scoring twice to earn the 3-2 come-from-behind-victory. Carens doubled to tie the game and Mike Davis came through with a two-out single that scored Carens with the winning run.
Buckland went six and two third innings, giving up five hits and a run, setting up Richardson, who earned the win to improve to 6-2 on the season for the Vikings.
Magni took the loss, going six and two thirds innings and allowing three runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts.
Salem State will play their last game of the year at Brandeis University on Tuesday at 3:30 PM, and Fitchburg State will host Westfield State in a double-header beginning
COURTESY OF SALEM STATE SID OFFICE