Falcons Sweep Mustangs, 3-2/5-0

Leblanc and Lambert lift Falcons to pair of non-conference victories

Springfield, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University softball team swept a double header with the Mustangs of Mount Ida College, 3-2 in nine innings and 5-0  in non-conference action this afternoon at the Judy Groff Field on the campus of American International College.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 3, Mount Ida 2 (9 inn) (Gm 1)

Score: Fitchburg State 5, Mount Ida 0 (Gm 2)

Records: Fitchburg State (4-8) | Mount Ida (2-10)

How It Happened

Game one

Fitchburg State took a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the fourth as junior Maddie Medina (Pelham, N.H.) single and scored on a double off the bat of sophomore McKenzie Lambert (Wilbraham, Mass.).

Mount Ida answered in the top of the fifth when freshman Caitlin Hogan (Derry, N.H.) singled through the left side to plate classmate Lindsay Finney (Bennington, Vt.) before newcomer Madeline Smith (San Diego, Calif.) drove in fellow freshman Kendal Carvalho (New Bedford, Mass.) for the 2-1 margin.

The Green and Gold broke the 2-2 stalemate in the bottom half of the ninth as Lambert advanced to third on a single from junior Nicole Sylvester (Everett, Mass.), while junior Michelle LeBlanc (Ashburnham, Mass.) laced a single to center field that scored Lambert, resulting in the 3-2, game one final.

Game Two

Fitchburg  State took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first when Lambert reached on a fielder's choice, moved to second on single from Sylvester before LeBlanc ripped a two-run single to center field to score Lambert and Sylvester.

With the score 3-0, the Falcons tacked on two more insurance runs in the bottom half of the fifth as sophomore Keeliey Zompetti (Hudson, Mass.) and junior Samantha Woodman (Essex, Mass.) singled before freshman Cammie Sperling (Rutland, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice to bring in Woodman, resulting in the 5-0 game two final.

Inside the Numbers

Just the third matchup between the two teams on the softball field with the Falcons currently 3-0-0 all-time when taking on the Mustangs.

Fitchburg State came away with a 6-1 triumph in the first meeting with Mount Ida on March 14, 2005 at the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.

In game one, Fitchburg State was paced by Sylvester, who finished 3-for-4 at the dish, while Medina added a pair of hits as well as one run scored and an RBI.

For Mount Ida, Hogan and Smith went 2-for-4 with an RBI each.

In the circle, freshman Taylor Colvin (Lancaster, Mass.) earned the win for the Falcons in game one, allowing two runs on six hits with four K's in the complete game effort, while Smith suffered the setback for the Mustangs, allowing three runs (2 earned) on nine hits and three strikeouts.

Junior Michaela Keenan (Boston, Mass.) led the way for Fitchburg State's game two offense, going 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Lambert chipped in with a single, two runs scored and an RBI. The Mustangs were led by freshman Savannah Neilan (Somerset, Mass.) who went 2-fpr-3, while Hogan added a single.

Sophomore Mikayla Harnois (Attleboro, Mass.) collected her first win on the year for Fitchburg State in game two, giving up just three hits with five punch outs to earn her first collegiate shutout, while newcomer Carrigan Costello (Wolcott, Conn.) took the loss for Mount Ida, yielding five runs (4 earned) on seven hits and three K's.

Up Next

Falcons will host the Buccaneers of Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Friday for a MASCAC double-header, starting at 3:00 PM. Mustangs will travel to Simmons College on Saturday for a GNAC twin billing with a 2:00 PM first pitch.