2020 Fitchburg State Baseball Schedule Announced
Falcons slated to open 2020 campaign at Salve Regina on March 1st
Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State baseball team's 2020 season has been announced with the Falcons slated play a total of 40 games, including seven games during its annual spring trip to Lake Myrtle, Florida.
The Green and Gold concluded last season with an overall record of 26-16 and a 13-8 mark with Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) play, en-route to earning the second seed in the 2019 MASCAC Baseball post-season tournament.
This season, Fitchburg State is scheduled to play five teams who qualified for the 2019 NCAA DIII Regionals, while also playing 12 teams that won at least 20 games last season.
Junior Aidan Ward (Dunstable, Mass.) is the Falcons top returning pitcher to start the season after concluding the 2019 season with an overall record of 4-1 and a 4.89 ERA, while junior Nicholas Cordeau (Melrose, Mass.) led the squad with a .381 batting average.
Other impact returners include sophomore Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.), who hit .3258 with 340 RBI, while senior Richard Sharp (Townsend, Mass.) is also looking to pick up where he left of from last season after ranking second on the team with a 4.07 ERA
Senior Richard Sharp (Townsend, Mass.) provides the Falcons pitching squad with some leadership after registering 55 strikeouts during his junior campaign, while veteran Joshua Macomber (Berkley, Mass.) adds versatility for the Green and Gold in the infield after batting .325 with 49 hits, including four doubles, one triple, three home runs, 29 RBI and 33 runs scored.
Top incoming players for the Green and Gold this season are junior transfers Emanuel Giumarra (South Salem, N.Y.), Zachary May (Rochdale, Mass.) and Matthew Ambrosino (Bradenton, Fla.)
'Currently we have two returning pitchers, who saw significant innings last season in (Aidan) Ward and (Richie) Sharp, so we are expecting some of our role player to step up and fill in this season in the likes of senior Jack Gallant (Hammond Plains, N.S), while sophomore Brendan Ferrell (Plymouth, Mass.), who was used primarily as an outfielder last season will be seeing more innings on the mound as well." Said Fitchburg State head baseball coach Shawn Manfredo.
"Our other pitchers have been working hard and are excited to show their potential." "We have lots of talent in relation to our offensive with veterans like (Brandon) Lefebvre, (Vincent) Eramo, (Brendan) Ferrell, (Joshua) Macomber and (Matthew) Pingitore all returning to the lineup." Continued Manfredo.
Manfredo went on to say, "We are going to rely on the versatility of guys like (Brendan) Ferrell, (Emanuel) Giumarra and (Zachary) May, who can all pitch, hit and play other field positions." "We also have a good mix of returning veterans and incoming player that will add to the mix and have high expectations for the upcoming season going into the season opener on Sunday against Salve Regina."
The Falcons open their 2020 slate on March 1st as they travel to Salve Regina before visiting Wheaton the on March 3rd to open the season before taking on Dean College on Thursday, March 5th.
Fitchburg State then embarks on its annual spring trip to Lake Myrtle, Fla., where the Falcons will take on Penn State-Abington (3/8), Suffolk (DH) (3/9), Keystone (3/10), Keuka (DH) (3/13) and William Paterson (3/14) before returning up north with visits to Anna Maria (3/18), WPI (3/20), RIC (DH) (3.21) and Lesley (3/25).
The Green and Gold will have their home opener on March 27th as they host the Trailblazers of MCLA to start MASCAC play on March 27th at the New England Baseball Complex visiting MCLA for a twin-bill the next day. Fitchburg State continues league play on April 1st as it hosts the Lancers of Worcester State before hosting Westfield State (4/3) for the first of three league matchups.
The Falcons travel to Salem State on April 9th for single nine inning contest against league rival, while concluding the three game swing the Vikings (4/10) at home before hosting the Lasers of Lasell University on April 14th.
The Green and Gold wrap up their five game home stand, hosting the Hawks of Becker College (4/15) and Framingham State (4/17) before visiting Framingham State (4/18) for a conference twin-bill.
Fitchburg State's non-conference swing continues, visiting hosting the Cougars of Clark University (4/21) before returning to conference action on April 24th as they travel to Bridgewater State. The Falcons will then host Bridgewater State on the following day for a MASCAC double header before hosting Gordon College (4/27) to close out Fitchburg State's non-conference slate.
The Green and Gold visit Massachusetts Maritime Academy on May 1st for single MASCAC clash, before closing out the 2020 regular season on May 2nd as they host the Buccaneers for a conference twin billing at Riccards Field.
The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament starts on May 7th and runs through the championship game on May 10th.
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