Falcons Swept By Penn State-Altoona On Day Three

Goldstein and Morehouse belt first collegiate homeruns for Green and Gold 

Auburndale, Fla. – The Fitchburg State University Baseball team dropped a pair of games to the Nittany Lions of Penn State-Altoona this afternoon by the scores of 16-5 and 11-4 from the Lake Myrtle Park Sports Complex on day three of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 5, Penn State Altoona 16 (Game One)

Score: Fitchburg State 4, Penn State Altoona 11 (Game Two)

Records: Fitchburg State (0-4), Penn State Altoona (3-3)

How It Happened

Game One

Penn State took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning with freshman Corey Chamberlain (Claysburg Penn.) and classmate Grant Barberich (Leesburg, Va.) notching RBI hits. Fitchburg State answered back in the top of the second when senior Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.) blasted his first home run of the season to left center to make the score 2-1.

The Nittany Lions responded with five runs in their half of the second with sophomore Jake Hillard (State College, Penn.) delivering a three-run home run, while newcomer Phaly Moravek (Leesburg, Va.) adding a two-run triple (7-2).

The Green and Gold got a run back in the top of the third when freshman Liam Goldstein (Charlestown, R.I.) connected on his first collegiate home run, launching a solo shot to left, but Penn State would up the margin to 13-3 in the bottom half of the third, highlighted by a Logan Margroum (Holidayburg, Penn.) grand slam.

The Falcons cut into the deficit in the top of the seventh when Goldstein drove home newcomer Nolan Hills (Danvers, Mass.) on an RBI fielder's choice, while classmate Cole DuHaime (Warminster, Penn.) also crossed the plate on a throwing miscue, resulting in the 16-5 final.

By The Numbers

• Eramo led the way for the Falcons, going 2-for-3 with a home run, one run scored and two RBI
• For the Nittany Lions, Margroum finished 1-of-3 with a grand slam, one run scored and four RBI
• Freshman Sam Boyer (Bradford, Mass.) allowed two unearned runs on three hits with three strikeouts in 2.1 innings of relief for Fitchburg State in a no decision
• Sophomore Alex Kitko (Houtzdale, Penn.) earned the win for Penn State, giving up three earned runs on five hits with two K's over 4.2 innings pitched

How It Happened

Game Two

Penn State grabbed an early 4-0 advantage in the top of the first on a tw0-run single from junior Timothy Richard (Douglassville, Penn.) and RBI's by Hillard and Margroum. Fitchburg State responded with a run in the bottom half of the first as Goldstein scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead to 4-1

Trailing 7-1 going into the bottom of the third, the Falcons battled back when graduate student Connor Morehouse (Wethery Lake, Mo.) proceeded to blast his first collegiate home run over the left field fence for a two-run shot before Eramo came around to cross the plate off a wild pitch to trim the lead to 7-4.

That's as close as the Green and Gold would get however as Penn State-Altoona pushed across three runs in the top of the fourth, keyed by a Richard two-run home run, resulting in the 11-4 final.

By The Numbers

• Third meeting between Fitchburg State and Penn State Altoona on the diamond with the Falcons 0-3 vs the Nittany Lions
• Morehouse paced the Falcons, hitting 3-for-4 with a home run, one run scored and two RBI
• For the Nittany Lions, Richard, finished a perfect 4-of-4 at the dish with a double, home run, two runs scored and four RBI
• Freshman Jovanni Merced (Springfield, Mass.) took the loss for Fitchburg State, yielding seven runs (5 earned) on seven hits with five K's in three innings pitched
• Freshman Eli Wiles (Kittanning, Penn.) picked up the win for Penn State, allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits with four strikeouts over five innings of work

Up Next

Falcons return to action tomorrow as they take on John Carroll College on day four of the RussMatt Invitational, starting at 10:30 AM.