Fitchburg State Falls In Season Opening Twinbill

Falcons fall 9-0 in game one; suffer 11-4 setback in nightcap

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 9, 2009) - The Fitchburg State softball team suffered a pair of losses in its season-opening double-header this evening in Fort Myers, Florida. The Falcons fell 9-0 to North Park in game one before suffering an 11-4 setback to Rockford in the nightcap.  

North Park 9, Fitchburg State 0 (5 innings)

Sophomore Meghan Callahan (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) hit a perfect 2-for-2 with a single and a double to pace the Fitchburg State offensive attack in game one. Senior Alicia Rocco (Tewksbury, Mass./Tewksbury) was also solid with a base-hit and walk, while classmate Erin Cotter (Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames) chipped in with a single.

Sophomore Bethany Stone (Wells, Maine/Wells) suffered the loss for the Falcons (0-1), yielding ten hits and nine runs over five innings of work. The veteran slinger totaled four strike outs and two walks in the complete game effort.

Rockford 11, Fitchburg State 4

In game two, Fitchburg State continued to battle as sophomore Karen Skoczylas (Palmer, Mass./Palmer) registered a perfect 4-for-4 performance with a double and triple. Rocco was also solid, finishing 3-for-4 with three singles, while junior Leigh Trzcinski (Worcester, Mass./South) tallied two double and two RBIs.

Fitchburg State got on the board early in the third innings as Skoczylas belted a tripled to start things off. Trzcinski followed moments later to give the Falcons its first score of the 2009 season.

In the fifth frame, the duo of Skoczylas and Trzcinski struck again as pair posted consecutive hits to plate another Falcon run. Skoczylas sparked the Falcons with a rally starting single and stolen base, while Trzcinski connected for her second RBI double of the contest.

Freshman Allison Cousins (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) suffered the loss for the Falcons, tossing a complete game with ten hits and 11 runs scored. The rookie hurler registered two strikeouts in her collegiate debut, while only walking a pair.

Fitchburg State (0-2, 0-0) will be in action tomorrow as it battles Drew College and St. Mary's in a double-header starting at 1 p.m.