Falcons Swept By Mammoths, 8-2/9-1

Cuddahy and Macomber solid for Falcons in pair of non-conference setbacks 

Amherst, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University baseball team dropped a pair of games to the Mammoths of Amherst College, 8-2/9-1 in non-conference action this afternoon at Memorial Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 2, Amherst 8 (Gm 1)

Score: Fitchburg State 1, Amherst 9 (Gm 2)

Records: Fitchburg State (5-6-1) | Amherst (6-5)

How It Happened

In the opener, Amherst took a 3-1 after three innings of play before Fitchburg State cut into the deficit in the top of the sixth as sophomore Brennan Cuddahy (Leominster, Mass.) doubled home senior Sean Maki (Fitchburg, Mass.) to make the score 3-1,

The Mammoths upped its margin in the bottom of the sixth, taking on five more runs (8-1), highlighted by a pair of two-run singles from sophomore Topher Brown (Westport, Conn.) and Will Murphy (Washington, D.C.).The Falcons added one more run in the top of the seventh when sophomore Andrew Curran (Leominster, Mass.) drew a based loaded walk that scored classmate Brandon Lefebvre (Leominster, Mass.), resulting in the 8-2 game one final.

In the night cap, Amherst held a 4-0 advantage after five innings of play as Murphy and freshman Kai Terada-Herzer (Honolulu, Hawaii) collected RBI's for the Mammoths before Fitchburg State broke it's scoring silence in the top of the eighth (4-1) on a run scoring ground out by freshman Brett Spano (Hanson, Mass.).

The hosts secured the sweep in the bottom half of the eighth however with senior Max Steinhorn (Washington, D.C.) lacing a two-run single to center field, resulting in the 9-1 game two final.

Inside the Numbers

16th meeting between the two schools on the baseball field with the Falcons currently 1-15-0 all-time when taking on the Mammoths.

Amherst has won four of the last five matchups with Fitchburg State, including a 9-4/7-5 double header sweep in the last meeting with the Falcons on May 2, 2010 at Riccards Field.

In game one, the Falcons were paced by Cuddahy, who hit 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Lefebvre added a double and one run scored.

Sophomore Joshua Macomber (Berkley, Mass.) led the way for Fitchburg State in the nightcap, hitting 1-for-2 at the dish with a double and one run scored, while freshman Nicholas Cordeau (Melrose, Mass.) and Cuddahy added one hit each.

For the Mammoths, Murphy, Brown and senior Harry Roberson (Arlington, Mass.) collected one hit and two RBI each to led the way in the opener, while in game two, Steinhorn finished 3-for-5 with two RBI for Amherst.

On the mound for Fitchburg State, junior Tommy Parsons (Peabody, Mass.) took the loss in game one after allowing three runs on three hits with four K's in five innings of work, while junior Davis Brown (Sea Island, Ga.) earned the game one win for Amherst, giving up one run on two hits and eight strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched.

In game two, freshman Ryan Towle (Westfield, Mass.) suffered the setback for the Falcons, yielding four runs (2 earned) on eight hits with three punch outs in 4.2 innings pitched, while senior Sam Schneider (Coronado, Calif.) collected the win for the Mammoths, giving up just one hit with 11 K's in six innings of work.

Up Next

Falcons will host the AMCATS of Anna Maria College on Wednesday for a non-conference matchup, starting at 3:30 PM. Mammoths will host the Judges of Brandeis University on Tuesday for a non-conference tilt at 3:30 PM.