Falcons Sweep Doubleheader from Hawks

SANFORD, Fla. –The Fitchburg State University baseball team swept a doubleheader from the Hawks of Becker College by the scores of 6-3 and 11-2 on day two of its spring trip at the RussMatt Central Florida Baseball Invitational.

The Basics

Game 1: Fitchburg State University 6, Becker 3
Game 2: Fitchburg State University 11, Becker 2
Records: Fitchburg State (5-1) | Fontbonne (0-5)

How It Happened – Game 1

Becker attained a 3-0 lead in the first two innings. Evan Barrera(West Warwick, R.I.) led off the scoring as he hit an RBI single through the left side to send Tanyon Ventres (Holden, Mass.) home.  Michael Bianco (Manorville, N.Y.) then scored on a passed ball to put the Hawks up 2-0 in the first.  He then hit an RBI single in the second inning.

Fitchburg State had a huge second inning, as they amassed six runs on five hits. Junior Brandon Lefebvre (Leominster, Mass.) delivered a double to center field scoring Joshua Macomber (Berkley, Mass.) and Alexander Bissanti (Franklin, Mass.) to cut the deficit to 3-2. Next batter Matthew Pingitore (Rutland, Mass.) put the Falcons ahead (4-3) with an 2RBI single. Sophomore Nichoals Cordeau (Melrose, Mass.) knocked a home run to left field to pull Fitchburg State ahead 6-3.

Becker's relief pitchers Tyler Kaye (Rockaway, N.J.) and Payton Musco (Litchfield, N.H.) came in clutch as they held off the Falcons for the remainder of the game.  Kaye pitched four innings in his first collegiate appearance and only allowed two hits while striking out four batters.  Musco closed the game out and didn't allow a single hit in his first appearance this season.

Inside the Numbers

• Fitchburg State's Cordeau and Matthew Pingitore each had two hits, two RBI and a run for the Falcons.
• Becker's Bianco batted 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
• Noah Rivera (New Bedford, Mass.), Barrera, and Willis Pollard (Worthington, Mass.) accounted for the other Hawk hits.
• Becker's Jack Snyder (Shrewsbury, Mass.) took the loss on the mound, while Fitchburg's Aidan Ward (Dunstable, Mass.) received the win and Shaun Gamelin (West Kingstown, R.I.) earned the save.

 How It Happened – Game 2

Becker dropped game two of the day as Fitchburg State scored 11 runs on eight hits and five Becker fielding errors.  Becker posted two runs on five hits and one error.

The Hawks put up a run early when Mel Gonzalez (Worcester, Mass.) scored on a wild pitch. 

However, in the top of the second inning, the Falcons brought home six runs on four hits and two Hawk errors. Zachary Gull (Rutland, Mass.) had a two-run shot over the left field wall, while four runs scored on two fielding errors committed.

Becker added another run in the third when Rivera hit an RBI single through the right side, plating Ben Mazzone(Bristol, Conn.) who reached base on a walk.

The fourth inning featured two more runs for the Falcons – both unearned.  Fitchburg State added another run in the sixth on a Cordeau double to left field, and added two more in the top of the seventh to finalize the score at 11-2.

Inside the Numbers

• Becker's Rivera led the Hawks offensively, going 2-for-3 with one RBI. Gonzalez, Bianco and Dewayne Thomas(Springfield, Mass.) accounted for the other two hits.  Thomas recorded his first collegiate hit in the setback.  Gonzalez swiped a base from the Falcons.
• Cordeau led the Falcons with a single and a double, one run, three RBI and a sacrifice bunt. The other nine hits were scattered amongst nine Fitchburg State Falcons.
• Fitchburg's relief pitcher Lucas Amico (Leominster, Mass.) earned the win in three innings pitched.  He only allowed one Becker hit and no runs crossed the plate.  He struck out five Becker batters.
• Becker's starter Michael Martinez (Raleigh, N.C.) was tabbed with the loss in four innings pitched. He allowed eight runs, but only two were earned.  He struck out three batters in his appearance.

Portions of this release courtesy of Becker College