Fitchburg State Earns Split With Westfield State, 4-0/2-0

Alcott lifts Falcons to MASCAC split with Westfield State

WESTFIELD, Mass. (April 27, 2014) – The Fitchburg State softball team registered a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) split with host Westfield State University this afternoon at Alumni field. The Falcons fell 4-0 in the opening contest before edging the Owls, 2-0 in the nightcap.

Westfield State 4, Fitchburg State 0 (Game 1)

In game one, Westfield State took the lead in the bottom of the second inning as junior Breanne Bisceglia (Worcester, Mass.) connected on her first home run of the season with lead off solo shot to left field for the 1-0 lead.

The Owls upped their lead in the fourth frame when freshman Elizabeth Kelly (Quincy, Mass.) singled through the right side, moved to second on a groundout to third and crossed the plate on a throwing miscue for the 2-0 margin.

The hosts capped the game's scoring in the sixth stanza as freshman Julia Sullivan (W. Barnstable, Mass.) singled and scored on an RBI double off the bat of Kelly before Bisceglia drove in Kelly with a single to right, resulting in the 4-0 final.

Freshman Courtney Borysewicz (Quaker Hill, Conn.), classmate Corin Swarbrick (Lawrence, Mass.) and junior Marissa Binnall (Fitchburg, Mass.) collected one hit apiece for the Falcons in game one. For Westfield State, Bisceglia finished 2-for-3 with a home run, one run scored and two RBI, while Kelly added a pair of hits, including a double, two runs scored and an RBI.

In the circle, junior Brittany Whiting (Sharon, Mass.) suffered the setback, allowing four runs (3 earned) on six hits with six strikeouts for Fitchburg State, while senior Kelley Fluet (Worcester, Mass.) earned the win for the Owls, giving up just four hits with one walk and three K's in the complete game effort.

Fitchburg State 2, Westfield State 0 (Game 2) 

In the nightcap, Fitchburg State received some timely hitting, scoring single runs in the third and fourth innings to defeat Westfield State, 2-0 to salvage a split with the Owls of Westfield State University. With the win, Fitchburg State improves to 14-16 and 6-8 within the conference, while Westfield State falls to 10-18 and 3-11 in conference play. 

Sophomore Marissa Gemma (Leominster, Mass.) ignited Fitchburg State's game two offense, going 3-for-4 with a double and a triple, while senior Ashley Forgues (Fitchburg, Mass.) aided the Falcons offense, collected a pair of hits and one run scored.

For the Owls, freshman Emma Dunbar (Weymouth, Mass.) went a perfect 2-for-2 at the dish, while Sullivan registered the other hit for the hosts.

On the mound, senior Kerry Alcott (Groton, Mass.) picked up win for Fitchburg State, giving up just three hits with one walk and ten punch outs in seven innings of work, while junior Emily Mailloux (Erving, Mass.) took the loss for the Owls, allowing two earned runs on ten hits and a pair of strikeouts.

Fitchburg State threatened in the top of the third frame as Gemma doubled to center field, moved to third on an infield single by Forgues, but Mailloux induced a fly out to center field to work out of the inning unscathed to keep the score 0-0. 

The Falcons broke the 0-0 stalemate in the top of the fifth inning when Forgues reached on a fielder's choice, advanced to second on base hit by freshman Jessalynne Brown (Malden, Mass.) and scored on an RBI double to right center from Borysewicz for the 1-0 advantage.

The Green and Gold doubled their lead (2-0) in the following inning as junior Amanda Whitelaw (Flemington, N.J.) singled to left, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by classmate Katelyn Fitzgerald (Fitchburg, Mass.) before scoring on a wild pitch, resulting in the 2-0 final 

Fitchburg State (14-16, 6-8 MASCAC) returns to action on Thursday as it awaits its seeding into the upcoming MASCAC post-season tournament. Westfield State (10-18, 3-11) will host Springfield College on Tuesday for a twin billing, starting at 3 p.m.