Fitchburg State Splits On Day Two Of Florida Trip

Falcons post 18-9 win vs. Franciscan; fall 3-0 to Manhattanville

CLERMONT, Fla. (March 13, 2012) – The Fitchburg State softball team posted a 1-1 split on day two of its Florida trip, defeating Franciscan College 18-9 in game one before falling to Manhattanville, 3-0 in the nightcap

Fitchburg State 18, Franciscan 9 (Game 1)

In game one, the Fitchburg State offense busted loose posting 14 hits en route to its first victory of the season.

Sophomore Ashley Forgues (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) was strong throughout the contest, connecting for four hits in the game, while junior Kelly Bourgea (Malden, Mass./Malden) also had a strong outing, finishing with two doubles and four RBI. Sophomore Shannon Fitzgerald (Blackstone, Mass./Blackstone Regional) and freshman Amanda Whitelaw (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) each had two hits apiece.

In the circle, senior Allison Cousins (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) pitched a complete game for the Falcons, before the game was called due to the seven run mercy rule in the sixth inning. Cousins allowed eight runs on just three hits, while striking out five and walking only two.

In the sixth, Fitchburg State exploded for seven runs to collect its first win of the season. The Falcons opened the game with an early 5-2 after an inning and a half of play, but Franciscan battled back in the bottom half of the second scoring four times to take a 6-5 advantage. The Falcons tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third, before sealing the contest with nine runs over the next three frames.

Manhattanville 3, Fitchburg State 0 (Game 2)

In the nightcap, Fitchburg State out-hit Manhattanville, 7-4 but a two-run homerun in the bottom of the sixth inning by Jessica Van Galen (Bedford Hills, N.Y./Fox Lane) proved to be too much for the Falcons.

Senior Alycia Grail (N. Brookfield, Mass./N. Brookfield) and freshman Jenna Ribero (Acushnet, Mass./New Bedford) led Fitchburg State offensively in game two, finishing with two hits apiece, while Forgues, Kayla Philbrick (Chicopee, Mass./Chicopee) and Megan Breault (Palmer, Mass./Palmer) all added one hit each.

In the circle, freshman Brittany Whiting (Sharon, Mass./Sharon) suffered the loss for the Falcons, putting forth a strong complete game effort with four K's over six innings pitched. The rookie slinger scattered just four hits and three earned runs, while forcing nine fly outs and four groundouts.

Fitchburg State (1-3, 0-0 MASCAC) will be back in action tomorrow as it battles Lesley at 11 a.m. and Wesleyan (Conn.) at 3 p.m.