Fitchburg State Captures Opener, Drops Nightcap vs. The College of New Jersey

Fitchburg State Captures Opener, Drops Nightcap vs. The College of New Jersey

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. - The Fitchburg State baseball team split a doubleheader with The College of New Jersey (4-1) on Sunday afternoon at the Chain of Lakes Baseball Complex. After notching a 10-7 victory in the opener the Falcons (3-3) were tripped up 8-3 in the nightcap.

Game 1: Fitchburg State 10, TCNJ 7

The Lions took an early 2-0 lead in the second, but Fitchburg retaliated with four runs in the bottom of the inning assisted by three TCNJ errors. They tacked on another in the third when Drew Mazzeo singled to left to drive in Derrick Frazier.
 
TCNJ's offense came to life in the fifth plating three runs to tie the game. But the Falcons wasted no time in responding, scoring five runs on just two hits in the bottom of fifth. Nathan Littman, Steven Drury Jr. and Robert Lewis III were each credited with an RBI in the inning, as Littman walked with the bases loaded, and Drury and Lewis were both hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The Lions drew closer with singles runs in the sixth and seventh, but the Falcons held on to claim the opener.

Joe St. Hilaire picked up the win in relief of Javier Lozada.

The Lions committed five errors, walked five, and hit four batters. They outhit the Falcons 12-8, but Fitchburg took advantage of what they were given to hand TCNJ its first loss of the season.
 
Game 2: TCNJ 8, Fitchburg State 3
 
The Falcons drew first blood in the nightcap, touching Michael Fischer for a run in the first, as an RBI groundout by Lewis brought home Drury, who had doubled to open the game.

TCNJ quickly matched them with a run in the bottom of the inning. John Rizzi was hit by a pitch, stole second, and eventually scored on a base hit up the middle. 

The Lions built a four-run lead (6-2) through five full frames, touching Falcons' starter Andrew Mooney for a total of six earned runs in his five innings of work.

A single, a walk and an error loaded the bases for Fitchburg in the seventh, but the Falcons could only manage a RBI base on balls by pinch-hitter Noah Millard.