Falcons Outlast Drew in 10 Innings

Davenport, Fla.  – On the last day of action at the Russ Matt Invitational the Fitchburg State baseball team battled back to down the Rangers of Drew University 8-6 in 10 innings.

The Basics

Fitchburg St. 8, Drew 6 – 10 Innings
Records: Fitchburg State (6-3), Drew (8-2)

How It Happened

In the bottom of the first inning, the Rangers scored three runs. Sophomore Ryan Jones (Fanwood, NJ) drew a bases-loaded walk and junior Justin Cece (Jefferson, NJ) singled to right field to give Drew the early lead.

The Falcons answered back in the top of the second inning. Sophomore Michael Cooper (Fitchburg, Mass.) and senior Jamie Velez (Lowell, Mass.) both walked with one out. Junior Eduardo Guzman (Fitchburg, Mass.) laced a single to right field scoring Cooper to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Trailing 5-1 in the sixth inning the Green and Gold struck for five runs. With the bases juiced with Falcons both freshman Adam Koza (Windham, NH) and Cooper had RBI singles. Koza would score on a muffed pickoff attempt at first and Velez crossed the plate with the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.

Drew capitalized on a defensive miscue from the Falcons to score a run in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings.

The Falcons forged ahead in the top of the tenth inning. Sophomore Matthew Smith (Flanders, NJ) belted a single to right center scoring classmate Cole DuHaime (Warminster, Penn.) who walked with one out. Fitchburg State added an insurance run scoring on a double-steal.

Inside the Numbers

• Orion Daily (Nantucket, Mass) picked up the win for the Falcons, allowing an earned run on 5 hits with 8 Ks over five innings
• Koza was 1-for-3 with a walk and RBI
• Smith was 1-for-1 with a stolen base and an RBI
• Cooper was 1-for 2 with 3 walks, 2 runs an RBI

 Up Next

The Falcons have concluded their successful spring break play, they'll next face Anna Maria on Wednesday, March 15^th at NEBC at 3:00 PM.