Baseball Edged By Huskies At RussMatt Invitational

Koza blasts pair of home runs for Green and Gold

Davenport, FL: The Fitchburg State baseball team suffered a tough 14-9 setback to the Huskies of Southern Maine this afternoon from Lake Myrtle Park, Field #8 at the 2024 RussMatt Invitational.

THE BASICS:

- Date: 3/15/24

- Score: Fitchburg State 9, Southern Maine 14

- Records: Fitchburg State (4-8, 0-0 MASCAC), Southern Maine (2-8, 0-0 LEC)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

-  Southern Maine took a 3-0 advantage in the top of the first as senior Cam Seymour (Saco, ME) and classmate Lucas Francis (Lisbon, ME) collected RBI singles, while freshman John Poole (South Portland, ME) added a run scoring groundout. Fitchburg State knotted the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the first when sophomore Adam Koza (Windham, NH) blasted his second home run of the season to left center, scoring newcomer Luke Sterner (Stafford, VA) and senior Matthew Kelly (E. Bridgewater, MA).

- The Huskies regained the lead (5-3) in the top of the second with sophomore Hunter Brissette (Lisbon, ME) and Poole notching run scoring doubles before Southern Maine extended the advantage to 6-3 in the top of the third on an RBI double down the left field line. The Falcons answered in the bottom of the third when junior Matthew Smith (Flanders, NJ) brought in Koza with fielders' choice to cut the deficit to 6-4.

- Trailing 8-4 in the bottom of the sixth, the Green and Gold responded as Kelly proceeded to launch his second home run on the season over the right field fence to make the score 8-6. Southern Maine upped the margin to 13-6 in the top of the seventh on a three-run shot from Poole. Fitchburg State answered back in the bottom of the frame when Kelly singled to center field, plating Smith 13-7).

- The Falcons trimmed the lead to 14-9 in the bottom of the eighth when junior Jacob Hurrell (Haverhill, MA) walked and eventually scored on a two-run blast off the bat of Koza.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  This afternoon's contest marked the first ever meeting between Fitchburg State and Southern Maine on the baseball diamond with the Falcons 0-1 all-time when taking on the Huskies

-  Koza paced the Falcons, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored and five RBI

-  Kelly went 3-for-5 with a home run, one run scored and three RBI

-  Newcomer Joseph Stawski (Niantic, CT) took the loss for Fitchburg State, yielding eight runs (5 earned) on 11 hits with one K and two walks over six innings pitched

-  For the Huskies, Poole finished 3-for-5 with a double, home run, one run scored and five RBI

-  Brissette chipped in with three hits, including two doubles, two runs scored and three RBI

-  Senior Bryce Afthim (Windham, ME) picked up the win for Southern Maine, allowing six runs on ten hits with eight strikeouts and three walks over six innings of work

UP NEXT:

- Fitchburg State returns to action tomorrow as they take on the Blue Jays of Saint Joseph (CT) for a non-conference matchup, starting at 9:45AM.

STAY CONNECTED:

- For the latest on Fitchburg State University Athletics, follow the Falcons via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.