Fitchburg State Splits Doubleheader With Salem State

Falcons earn 4-2 extra inning victory in game one; fall 9-1 in game two

SALEM, Mass. (April 3, 2011) – The Fitchburg State softball team posted a 1-1 split with Salem State University in MASCAC action this afternoon. The Falcons posted a 4-2 extra inning victory in game one before falling 9-1 in game two.

Fitchburg State 4, Salem State 2

In game one, Fitchburg State broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the ninth inning, scoring a pair of runs on for its first MASCAC victory of the season.

Senior Nicole Monroe (Pepperell, Mass./North Middlesex) sparked the Falcons both on the mound and at the plate. Monroe hurled a complete game, five-hitter (6 K's) for the Falcons, while finishing 2-for-4 at the plate with a key RBI in the final frame.  Sophomore Jill Moses (Dedham, Mass./Dedham) was also strong with a 2-for-3 game, two singles and two runs scored, while freshman Megan Breault (Palmer, Mass./Palmer) added one hit and one run.

With the score knotted at 2-2, Fitchburg State broke a three-inning scoring drought as Breault led off the stanza with a single and later scored on a Salem State passed ball. Monroe then sealed the victory for the Falcons, connecting for an RBI single to drive home freshman Emily Pomer (Groveland, Mass./Whittier Regional).

Salem State 9, Fitchburg State 1

Salem State bounced back with a ten-hit attack in game two, downing Fitchburg State 9-1 in five innings to salvage a MASCAC split.

After falling behind 1-0 in the second, Salem State scored nine runs over the next four innings to put the game away. Jeannette Doucette (Andover, Mass.) provided the big blow with a two-run double in the second, before the Vikings plated three in the third to build a 5-1 lead. Taylor Orlando (Danvers, Mass.) tripled and later scored on an error before Vitale blasted a double to score Salem State's second run.

Three more runs by the Lady Vikings in the fifth pushed the lead to 9-1 and the game was called. DiCredico scored the first run after hitting a single and later scored on a fielder's choice. A passed ball and RBI ground out by Garchinsky scored the final two runs.

Salem State starter Lauren DiCredico (Tewksbury, Mass.) went the distance allowing one earned run and just two hits with seven strikeouts to pick up the victory. Freshman Jessica Drago (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) lasted just two and two thirds innings for Fitchburg State, giving up five runs on six hits to suffer the defeat.

Fitchburg State (7-10, 1-1 MASCAC) returns to action Tuesday as it travels to Fisher College at 3 p.m. Salem State (10-10, 1-1 MASCAC) will visit the University of Southern Maine on Thursday at 3 p.m.