UMass Dartmouth Takes Two From Fitchburg State

Falcons fall 7-2 in game one; edged 11-7 in nightcap

NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. (March 24, 2009) - The Fitchburg State softball team suffered a pair of setbacks as UMass Dartmouth swept the Falcons in a non-conference doubleheader this afternoon. The Corsairs posted a 7-2 victory in game one, before taking the nightcap, 11-7.

UMass Dartmouth 7, Fitchburg State 2

In game one, junior Leigh Trzcinski (Worcester, Mass./South) led the Fitchburg State offense, finishing a team-best 2-for-3 with a triple, one run scored and a stolen base, while sophomore Meghan Callahan (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) added a double and one run scored. Freshmen Ashley McKinnon (Raynham, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) and Amanda Quin (Townsend, Mass./North Middlesex) chipped in with one hit apiece.

Freshman Kaitlin Hogan (Tewksbury, Mass./Shawsheen) led the UMass Dartmouth charge with a 2-for-3 performance, including a double, two runs scored and three RBI, while  junior Katy Williams (Charlemont, Mass./ Mohawk Trail Regional) went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI.

Hogan kicked off the UMass Dartmouth scoring early in the first inning as she singled and later scored on a double by sophomore Jessica Falzone (Revere, Mass./Revere). The Corsairs continued their offensive prowess in the third frame, totaling four runs and five hits to take a commanding 5-0 lead. Hogan led the Corsair charge with a base-clearing double to plate three, while Williams blasted an RBI double.

Freshman right-hander Brittany Eldridge (Raynham, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) pitched a five-hitter to improve to 2-2 on the season. Eldridge allowed only two runs in the complete game effort, while walking none and striking out seven. Freshman Allison Cousins (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) suffered the loss for Fitchburg State (1-5), yielding seven earned runs over six innings and striking out eight.

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UMass Dartmouth 11, Fitchburg State 7 

KRISTEN LOVE

In the nightcap, UMass Dartmouth opened with a 6-0 lead, but Fitchburg State rallied back, cutting the Corsair lead to 6-5 with a five run fifth inning. The Corsairs responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame to seize a 10-5 advantage and secure the sweep.

Eldridge ignited the UMass Dartmouth scoring explosion with two homeruns in the contest while freshman catcher Hannah Rounds (Lincoln, RI/Lincoln HS) finished 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Junior Emily Surprenant (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro) was also solid with an RBI single.

Trzcinski was just as solid in game two for the Falcons, hitting 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and three RBI, while sophomore Kristen Love (Londonderry, N.H./Londonderry) added three base-hits and one run scored. McKinnon rounded out the Falcons top three, with two hits, one run scored and one RBI.

Rounds and Surprenant ignited the UMass Dartmouth scoring with RBI hits in the opening frame, while Eldridge belted a two-run homerun in the third to give the Corsairs a 6-0 cushion. McKinnon and Trzcinski responded for the Falcons with RBI hits in Fitchburg State's five-run fifth inning, but Eldridge hit another two-run homer in the bottom of the frame to seal the Corsair victory.

Senior right-hander Amie Nickerson (Wrentham, Mass./King Phillip Regional) earned the victory and improved to 1-3, while sophomore Bethany Stone (Wells, Maine/Wells) took the loss for Fitchburg State (2-4).

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Fitchburg State (3-9, 0-0 MASCAC) will be in action again Thursday as it travels to Roger Williams at 3 p.m. UMass Dartmouth (3-7, 0-0 LEC) will host Plymouth State on Saturday at 1 p.m.