Falcons Topped By Bears In Quarterfinal Round Action

Malek drives in four for Green and Gold

Bridgewater, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University Baseball team suffered a 10-7 setback to the Bears of Bridgewater State in quarterfinal round action of the 2023 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Post-Season Tournament from Alumni Park.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 7, Bridgewater State 10

Records: Fitchburg State (19-20, 9-12 MASCAC) I Bridgewater State (22-11, 15-6 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Bridgewater State took a 4-0 edge in the bottom of the third as sophomore Scott Emerson (Peabody, Mass.) singled, junior Cam James (Ipswich, Mass.) walked and newcomer Riley Thornhill (Wareham, Mass.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases before junior Kyle Suraci (Clinton, Conn.) launched a grand slam to left center.

Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the fourth when senior Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.) was hit by a pitch to leadoff the frame, while classmate Zachary Malek (Schenectady, N.Y.) followed with a two-run shot to left field.

The Falcons knotted the score at 4-4 in the following frame with junior Devin Lorae (Canton, Ga.) reached on a fielders' choice, advanced to second on single off the bat of junior Maxwell Kelly (E. Bridgewater, Mass.), while Eramo and sophomore Matthew Smith (Flanders, N.J.) singled to load bases after a fielders' choice to load the bases. Malek and sophomore Jacob Hurrell (Haverhill, Mass.) then drew bases loaded walks, scoring Kelly and Smith.

The Bears regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth as Suraci and freshman Nolan DeAndrade (Bridgewater, Mass.) drawing back-to-back walks before Suraci and DeAndrade crossed the plate on a throwing miscue to make the score 7-4.

The Green and Gold answered back in the top of the eighth when sophomore Nolan Hills (Danvers, Mass.) singled up the middle, pinch runner Derek Milliken (South Easton, Mass.) moved to second and third on a pair of passed balls and sophomore Greg Reed (Saugus, Mass.) laced a single to right center to trim the lead to 7-5.

Bridgewater State pushed the lead to 10-5 in the bottom of the eighth with Emerson singling to right center, scoring senior Sean Goudey (Weymouth, Mass.) before James notched a two-run single to center field, bringing in Emerson and junior Kevin Lindsay (E. Bridgewater, Mass.).

Fitchburg State scratched across a pair of run in the top of the ninth when Smith singled to right field, advanced to third on fielding miscue and scored on an RBI groundout from Malek, while Hurrell brought home Eramo with a sacrifice fly to center, but that's as close as the Green and Gold would get as the hosts, induced an game ending groundout, resulting in the 10-7 final.

By The Numbers

• Malek led the way for the Falcons, going 1-for-4 with a home run, one run scored and four RBI
• Smith finished 2-of-3 with two runs scored for the Green and Gold
• Sophomore Josesph Hartnett (North Attleboro, Mass.) took the loss for Fitchburg State, yielding seven runs (4 earned) on five hits with five K's over six innings pitched
• For the Bears, Suraci hit 1-of-3 with a home run, two runs scored and four RBI
• Senior Matthew Seavey (North Attleboro, Mass.) earned the win for Bridgewater State, giving up five runs (4 earned) on eight hits and striking out two over 7.2 innings of work
• 100th meeting between the Falcons and the Bears on the diamond with Fitchburg State 31-69 all-time when taking on Bridgewater State

Up Next

Falcons return to action tomorrow as they take on the Buccaneers of Mass. Maritime Academy in semifinal round action of the 2023 MASCAC Baseball Post-Season Tournament, hosted by Framingham State, starting at 11:00AM.