Plymouth State Upends Fitchburg State, 13-4/6-0

Falcons fall 13-4 in game one; suffer 6-0 setback in the nightcap

FITCHBURG, Mass. (April 3, 2014) – The Fitchburg State softball team dropped a pair of non-conference games to the Panther of Plymouth State University, suffering a 13-4 setback in the opening contest before dropping the night cap, 6-0 this afternoon at Coolidge Park.

Plymouth State 13, Fitchburg State 4 (Game 1)

Plymouth State took the lead in the first inning as junior Bekah Jackson (Nashua, N.H.) led off with a triple to deep center and proceed to cross the plate on a groundout to second base by freshman Masha Lange (Danville, N.H.) to put the Panthers up 1-0.

The Falcons responded in their half of the frame when senior Ashley Forgues (Fitchburg Mass.) walked to start the inning, advanced to second on walk by freshman Courtney Borysewicz (Quaker Hill, Conn.) before junior Amanda Whitelaw (Flemington, N.J.) doubled to left to score both Forgues and Borysewicz for the 2-1 margin.

The visitors knotted the score in the top of the third inning as Jackson walked with one out, stole second base and was driven in on a double down the left field line by senior Sam Hebert (Manchester, N.H.) to tie up the game at 2-2.

Plymouth State regained the lead in the fourth stanza, scoring six runs in frame, highlighted by a two run double from sophomore Julie Royer (Pawcatuck, Conn.) and RBI base knocks by Lange and Hebert for the 8-2 advantage.

Fitchburg State answered in the bottom of the fourth when junior Colleen Flaherty (Stoughton, Mass.) laced a double into left field and eventually came around to score on a fielding error to make the score 8-3.

The Panthers upped its lead in the fifth frame as sophomore Shirley Butterfield (Atkinson, N.H.) walked, advanced to second when junior Morgan Wilson (Wilmot, N.H.) was hit by a pitch and Jackson connected for a three-run inside the park home run to right center for the 11-3 margin.

The Green and Gold continued to battle in the bottom the fifth, plating a run when Whitelaw tripled to right field to start the inning before freshman Jessalynne Brown (Malden, Mass.) drove in Whitelaw with an RBI groundout to second base, resulting in the 13-4 final.

Whitelaw led the way for the Falcons offense, hitting 2-for-3, including a double, triple, one run scored and a pair of RBI, while Flaherty added to mix with a pair doubles and one run scored. Offensively for Plymouth State, Jackson went a perfect 3-for-3 with a triple, home run, four runs scored and a trio of RBI, while Lange also put forth a solid effort, batting 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI.

In the circle, junior Whitney Roberts (Chocorua, N.H.) picked up the victory, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits in four innings of relief for the Panthers, while junior Brittany Whiting (Sharon, Mass.) took the loss for Fitchburg State, yielding 11 runs (five earned) on seven hits with three strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work.

Plymouth State 6, Fitchburg State 0 (Game 2)

In the night cap, Plymouth State senior hurler Nora Galvin (Windham, N.H.) registered a three-hit shut en-route to the 6-0 victory to complete the sweep. Galvin went the distance, giving up just three hits and five K's with three walks allowed, while freshman Terri Ferrazzani (N. Reading, Mass.) suffered the setback, allowing six runs (four earned) on ten hits in 4.2 innings for the Falcons.

Senior Taylor Mancini (Gansevoort, N.Y.) paced the Panthers game two offense, going 2-for-4 with double, one run scored and two RBI, while Hebert and Royer combined for four hits including a double, an RBI and a pair of runs scored.

For Fitchburg State, sophomore Brianna Uga (Everett, Mass.) posted a double, while junior Sabrina Schwartz (Ayer, Mass.) and Borysewicz added the Falcons other two hits on the afternoon.

The Panthers got on the board in the second inning as sophomore Nicole Abreu (Hudson, N.H.) drove in Royer with a groundout to short, while Mancini doubled home classmate Jackie Digman (Burlington, Mass.) for the 3-0 lead.

Plymouth State upped its advantage in the fourth frame when Royer singled, moved to second and third on a bunt and a throwing miscue before crossing the plate on sacrifice fly to left field off the bat of Mancini, while Abreu scored on a single up the middle by Jackson for the 5-0 margin.

The visitors secured the game two victory in the fifth stanza as Lange doubled to deep center field, moved to third on grounder to first and scored on an RBI single to left by Royer, resulting in the 6-0 final.

Fitchburg State (8-8, 2-0 MASCAC) will be back in action on Saturday as it visits the Rams of Framingham State University at 1 p.m. Plymouth State (6-6, 0-0 LEC) will travel to Eastern Connecticut State for a twin billing, starting at 1 p.m.