Falcons Drop Pair To Buccaneers In MASCAC Opener

Lefebvre and Bissanti lead the way for the Falcons in conference opener

Haverhill, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University baseball team opened up Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play this afternoon, dropping a pair games, 5-2/8-5 to the Buccaneers of Massachusetts Maritime Academy at Trinity Stadium on the campus of Haverhill High School.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 2, Mass Maritime 5 (Gm1)

Score: Fitchburg State 5, Mass. Maritime 8 (Gm2)

Records: Fitchburg State (5-10-1, 0-2 MASCAC) | Mass Maritime (8-7, 2-0 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Game one

Mass. Maritime took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on an RBI bases loaded walk from senior Connor Kennedy (West Barnstable, Mass.) and run scoring single by classmate Casey Furnas (Boca Raton, Fla.)

Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom half of the fourth as junior Alexander Bissanti (Franklin, Mass.) plated sophomore Joshua Macomber (Berkley, Mass.) with a sacrifice fly to left before the Buccaneers upped its margin (4-1) in the top half of the sixth on a squeeze bunt from Furnas.

The Falcons answered in the bottom half of the frame when sophomore Matthew Pingitore (Rutland, Mass.) walked with the bases loaded to score classmate Andrew Curran (Leominster, Mass.), but the visitors capped the game one scoring in the top of the seventh on an RBI walk by senior Logan Sullo (Acushnet, Mass.), resulting in the 5-2 final in the opener.

Game two

Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the second, Fitchburg State grabbed the lead as Bissanti singled through the left side to bring in junior Noah Milliard (Leominster, Mass.) before sophomore Brandon Lefebvre (Leominster, Mass.) laced a two-run single to center that plated Bissanti and sophomore Zachary Gull (Rutland, Mass.) to give the Falcons a 4-2 advantage.

The Green and Gold extended its lead in the bottom of the fourth (5-2) when Bissanti walked, moved to second on a groundout and scored on a single to left center off the bat of Macomber. The Buccaneers rallied in the top of the sixth, scoring six runs, highlighted by a grand slam from Sullo to put the visitors back on top for good, 8-5.

Inside the Numbers

72nd meeting between the two schools on the diamond with the Falcons currently 29-43-0 all-time when taking on the Buccaneers.

Buccaneers have won seven of the last ten contest against the Falcons, with the two teams splitting a double header (7-3/2-7) in the last meeting on April 8, 2017 at Clean Harbor Stadium.

In game one, freshman Nicholas Cordeau (Melrose, Mass.) paced the Falcons, going 2-for-2, while Lefebvre finished 1-for-2 with a run scored and a pair of RBI to lead the way for Fitchburg State's game two efforts.

For the Buccaneers, Furnas paved the way in the opener, finishing with one hit and two RBI, while Sullo spared Mass. Maritime's game two offense with a perfect 2-for-2 effort at the dish, including a grand slam, two runs scored and five RBI.

On the hill, junior Tommy Parsons (Peabody, Mass.) took the game one loss for the Green and Gold, allowing three runs on just two hits with six Ks in 4.1 innings of work, while freshman Ryan Towle (Westfield, Mass.) was solid for Fitchburg State in game two, giving up two runs on six hits with three punch outs in five innings of work in a no decision.

Newcomer Mason Ashburn (East Freetown, Mass.) picked up the win in the opener for the Buccaneers, yielding two runs on four hits and three strikeouts in 5.1 innings pitched, while fellow freshman Wyatt Major (Mattapoisett, Mass.) earned the win for Mass. Maritime in the night cap after going 2.1 innings of scoreless relief with two k's.

Up Next

Falcons will travel to Rhode Island College on Monday to take on the Anchormen for a contest starting at 3:00 PM. Buccaneers will visit the Corsairs of UMass Dartmouth on the same day for a 3:30 PM first pitch.