Falcons Sweep Trailblazers

Falcons collect 10-1 in opener; Register 6-1 victory in nightcap

Williamstown, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University softball team swept a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) double header over the Trailblazers of MCLA, 10-1/6-1 this afternoon at Cole Field on the campus of Williams College.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 10, MCLA 1 (Game One)

Score: Fitchburg State 6, MCLA 1 (Game Two)

Records: Fitchburg State (9-9, 4-0 MASCAC) | MCLA (2-12, 0-4 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Game One

Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the top of the first as sophomore McKenzie Lambert (Wilbraham, Mass.) doubled, moved to third on a pair of hit batters and scored on an RBI single off the bat of freshman Cammi Sperling (Rutland, Mass.) for the 1-0 lead.

The Falcons upped its margin in the following stanza (3-0) when Lambert singled to center to plate junior Hayley McCarthy (Lawrence, Mass.) before junior Melissa DiPhilippo (Norfolk, Mass.) drove in classmate Maddie Medina (Pelham, N.H.) with a sacrifice fly to right.

MCLA cut into the deficit in the bottom half of the second as sophomore Ashley Wilson (Haverhill, Mass.) connected on a run scoring single to bring in classmate Morgan Watson (Portland, Ore.) to make the score 3-1 before the Green and Gold extended its advantage (7-1) on run scoring singles from Medina, DiPhilippo and junior Nicole Sylvester (Everett, Mass.).

Game Two

Fitchburg State took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second as sophomore Emma Campbell (Goffstown, N.H.) singled to left to bring home classmate Keeliey Zompetti (Hudson, Mass.) and McCarthy before the Falcons upped its margin (3-0) in the following frame on a run scoring single from Sperling.

The Green and Gold tacked on insurance runs in the fourth and fifth frames on a sacrifice fly by Lambert and an RBI groundout from Zompetti before Fitchburg State capped the scoring in the top of the sixth as Lambert launched her second collegiate home run in the top of the sixth, resulting in the 6-1 game two final.

Inside the Numbers

Fitchburg State was paced by Lambert, who went a combined 4-for-8 with a double, home run, four runs scored and three RBI, while Sperling finished 4-for-8, including a double and three RBI.

For MCLA, Wilson collected two hits, including a double and one RBI, while sophomore Nevada Nelsen (Colonie, N.Y.) hit 3-for-6 with a double.

In the circle, sophomore Mikayla Harnois (Attleboro, Mass.) picked up the game one win for the Falcons, allowing just four hits and two K's in 5.1 innings of relief, while Campbell earned the victory in the nightcap for the visitors after yielding one unearned run on eight hits and four strikeouts in seven innings of work.

Sophomore Kara Adams (Walden, N.Y.) took the loss in the opener for the Trailblazers, giving up seven runs on 11 hits and two K's in 4.1 innings pitched, while newcomer Samantha Feinstein (South Yarmouth, Mass.) suffered the setback in game two after allowing six runs on 11 hits with one strikeout in the complete game effort.

93rd meeting between the two schools on the softball field with the Falcons currently 47-36-0 all-time when taking on the Trailblazers.

Fitchburg State has won six of the last eight contests against MCLA, including a 9-1/7-2 sweep over the Trailblazers last season at Coolidge Park. Former Falcon Katie Gildea led the way, going 4-for-7 with a double, three runs scored and three RBI in the two games.

Up Next

Falcons will hosts the Bison of Nichols College tomorrow for a non-conference double header, starting at 3:00 PM. Trailblazers will visit Lyndon State on Wednesday for a non-conference twin-billing at 3:30 PM.