Falcons Battle In Doubleheader Split at Westfield State

WESTFIELD, Mass. --- Fitchburg State University rode a strong pitching performance from sophomore lefthander Tommy Parsons to win game one, 5-2, before dropping the second of the doubleheader, allowing 10 runs in game two, and splitting the Massachusetts State Athletic Collegiate Conference (MASCAC) twin-bill with Westfield State.  

Fitchburg State (14-16; 7-3) will travel to Worcester State for its final conference doubleheader on the road on April 26^th beginning at 2:00 P.M.

Westfield State (14-17; 5-5) heads to North Adams on the same day to take on MCLA for a conference doubleheader starting at 2:00 P.M.

Game One, 5-2

Sophomore lefty Tommy Parsons was stellar on the mound recording six no-hit innings to power Fitchburg State past Westfield State 5-2 in game one of the twin-bill.

After a slight break in the offense, catcher Nathan Littman padded the lead in the top of the seventh, hitting a two-run home run over the fence in left field for the first of his career and some late insurance (5-0).

With its back to the wall in the bottom of the seventh, Westfield State struck for two runs on one hit before Parsons shut the door on game one, striking out the final batter he faced to complete his phenomenal performance and pick up his third conference win of the season, 5-2.

Littman led the offense in game one going 2-for4 at the plate with a run and three RBI while Lozada finished 3-for-3 with a double and two runs for Fitchburg State.

Christian Morales and Brown picked up the only base-hits for Westfield State in the first contest, both hitting doubles. 

Game Two, 10-5

Westfield State junior Matt Nunes was exceptionally good allowing three earned through 5.1 innings, scattering six hits and striking out eight to earn his second conference win of the season by a final score of 10-5.

For Fitchburg State, Javier Lozada struggled in two innings of work allowing five runs on six hits. Tyler Smith and Noah Millard tossed 2.2 innings and 1 inning respectively.

Fitchburg State starting pitcher ran into trouble immediately as Westfield State's Dan McCormack wasted no time, singling on the first pitch he saw in the game before scoring on a single from Danny DiMatteo. Later in the inning, DiMatteo scored on a shallow fly to centerfield - beating the throw at the plate to double the Owl lead (2-0).

The Green and Gold cut into the deficit in the next half inning when sophomore Andrew Mooney drove in Robert Lewis from third with two-out RBI single to centerfield (2-1).

In the bottom of the second, Westfield State scored two more as Tyler Beach reached base via base on balls before later sneaking in to score on a groundout. Later with a runner on second base, a crucial throwing error from the Falcons shortstop allowed the second Owl run of the inning to score (4-1).

Woes continued for the Fitchburg starter in the bottom of the third because with no outs and the bases jammed, Beach delivered a RBI single to right field to take a 5-1 lead and force Lozada from the game after just two innings. Later in the frame, the Owls scored their second run with a sacrifice fly off Fitchburg State relief pitcher Noah Millard (6-1).  

In the top of the sixth, the Falcons chipped away even more when Mooney and Andrew Currie each came through with RBI singles to chase the starting pitcher from the contest (6-2). Later in the inning with two-outs and runners on second and third, Fitchburg State relinquished a huge opportunity after a dribbler to the first baseman ended the inning.

Westfield State quickly responded by grabbing some insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth starting when a ball hit by freshman Aaron Clancy kicked off the glove off Currie in left field following a diving attempt for a double to score Nate Barnes from first base. A throwing error later in the sixth allowed two more runs to score for Westfield State and pushed its advantage further (9-2).

Westfield senior Pete Lilmataien came in for relief in the sixth and finished the five-out save in the seventh his second of the season, but not before Fitchburg State caused a stir – scoring two runs for the final score of 10-5.

Mooney finished as the lone-bright spot for the Fitchburg State offense, going 3-for-3 at the dish and driving in three runs and scoring one himself.

Release courtesy of Fitchburg State student journalist Kyle Prudhomme