Falcons Split With Lancers In MASCAC Action

Take opener 11-3; Edged 7-6 in nightcap

Worcester, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University baseball team spilt a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) double header with the Lancers of Worcester State University, 11-3/6-7 this afternoon at Lyons Diamond.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 11, Worcester State 3 (Gm 1)

Score: Fitchburg State 6, Worcester State 7 (Gm 2)

Records: Fitchburg State (11-15-2, 5-6-1 MASCAC) | Worcester State (11-23, 6-6 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Game One

Fitchburg State grabbed an early 4-0 lead in the top of the second on RBI walks from sophomore Brandon Lefebvre (Leominster, Mass.), senior Andrew Currie (Quincy, Mass.) and junior Noah Milliard (Leominster, Mass.) as well as a run scoring single off the bat of freshman Nicholas Cordeau (Melrose, Mass.).

Worcester State cut the lead to 4-1 in the bottom half of the second when sophomore Sam Allen (Springfield, Mass.) drove in classmate Cooper Bigelow (Leominster, Mass.) with a sacrifice bunt. The Falcons extended its lead (7-1) in the top of the third as Cordeau and Currie notched RBI base knocks, en-route to an 11-3 game one victory.

Game Two

Fitchburg State took a 4-0 advantage in the top half of the third, highlighted by a three-run home run off the bat of Milliard. Worcester State chipped away at the deficit, knotting the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Bigelow and a wild pitch.

The Falcons regained the lead in the fifth (5-4) when senior Sean Maki (Fitchburg, Mass.) doubled down the left field line to drive in sophomore Matthew Pingitore (Rutland, Mass.) before upping in margin in the following frame on a run scoring double off the bat of Lefebvre to make the score 6-4.

The Lancers answered back in the bottom of the seventh as Bigelow drew a bases-loaded walk and Allen was hit by a pitch with the bases still loaded. The hosts would push across the winning run one batter later when sophomore Chadd Richardson (Bristol, Conn.) singled to second to plate classmate Colin Medeiros (Fall River, Mass.), resulting in the 7-6 come-from-behind victory to earn the split. 

Inside the Numbers

86th meeting between the two schools on the baseball diamond with the Falcons currently 30-56-0 all-time when taking on the Lancers.

Fitchburg State had won the last four contests against Worcester State, including a 10-7/5-4 double-header sweep last season at Riccards Field.

Sophomore Brennan Cuddahy (Leominster, Mass.) paced the Falcons, going 5-for-6 with home run, two runs scored and three RBI, while Milliard added one hit, including a home run, three runs scored and four RBI.

For the Lancers, Bigelow finished 1-for-3 with two RBI, one run scored and three walks, while junior Mike Ferrara (Easton, Mass.) added two hits with a double and one RBI.

On the mound, newcomer Ryan Towle (Westfield, Mass.) picked up the game one win for Fitchburg State, giving up two earned runs on five hits with four K's, while senior Matt Irzyk (Westfield, Mass.) collected the game two win for Worcester State after allowing just two hits in 1.1 innings of relief.

Up Next

Falcons will host the Anchormen of Rhode Island College on Thursday for a non-conference tilt, starting at 3:30 PM. Lancers will host the Seahawks of Salve Regina on the same date for a non-conference bout at 3:30 PM.