Falcons Sweep Vikings In MASCAC Action

Campbell and Colvin lift Falcons to pair of conference wins 

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University softball team collected a pair of Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) victories over the Vikings of Salem State University, 3-2/8-3this afternoon at the Donna Lee Withington Memorial softball field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 3, Salem State 2 (Game One)

Score: Fitchburg State 8, Salem State 3 (Game Two)

Records: Fitchburg State (11-15, 6-4 MASCAC) | Salem State (10-17, 4-4 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Game One

Salem State opened the scoring in the top of the first as senior April Adams (Burlington, Mass.) doubled down the left field line, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI ground by classmate Marisa Sanchez (Framingham, Mass.) for the 1-0 margin.

The Vikings doubled their lead (2-0) in the top of the fifth when junior Samantha Holey (Lynn, Mass.) homered to right center before Fitchburg State cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fifth as junior Maddie Medina (Pelham, N.H.) plated classmate Samantha Woodman (Essex, Mass.) with a run scoring ground out to short to make score 2-1.

The Falcons continued to rally, plating two runs in the bottom of the sixth with junior Hayley McCarthy (Lawrence, Mass.) lacing a two-run double into the left center field gap to bring home freshman Cammi Sperling (Rutland, Mass.) and junior Michelle LeBlanc (Ashburnham, Mass.) to give the Green and Gold a 3-2 game one win.

Game Two

Fitchburg State took a 6-0 advantage in the bottom of the first as junior Nicole Sylvester (Everett, Mass.) doubled to left center to score Sperling before LeBlanc, McCarthy, sophomore Emma Campbell (Goffstown, N.H.) and Medina added RBI base knocks in the frame.

Trailing 7-1 in the top of the fifth, Salem State cut into the lead when junior Gabryanna Cardenas (Oxford, Mass.) ripped a two-run single to left field that drove in senior Jen Crovo (Melrose, Mass.) and Sanchez to make the score 7-3.

The Falcons tacked on an insurance run in the bottom half of the fifth as LeBlanc and McCarthy singled with two outs before Campbell reached on a fielding miscue allowing LeBlanc to cross the plate, resulting in the 8-3 game two final.

Inside the Numbers

81st meeting between the two schools on the softball field with the Falcons currently 34-47-0 all-time when taking on the Vikings.

Salem State had won the last four match ups with Fitchburg State, including a 6-5 decision last season in opening round action of the 2017 MASCAC softball post-season tournament as former Falcon Jessalynn Brown went 2-for-3 with two RBI for the Green and Gold.

Fitchburg State was led by McCarthy, who hit 5-for-7 with a double, two runs scored and three RBI, while LeBlanc added four hits, including a triple, two runs scored and an RBI.

For Salem State, junior Chloe Manousos (Lowell, Mass.) finished 4-of-7 with a double, while Cardenas chipped in with three hits, including a double, one run scored and two RBI.

In the circle, freshman Taylor Colvin (Lancaster, Mass.) and Campbell were solid for the Green and Gold, combining to allow just three earned runs with seven strikeouts in the two wins, while senior Meghan Black (Winchendon, Mass.) was impressive for the Vikings, giving up just two earned runs on nine hits and four K's in 7.2 innings of work.

Up Next

Falcons will travel to Worcester State on Tuesday to take on the Lancers for a MASCAC double-header, starting at 4:00 PM. Vikings will host the Lancers of Worcester State tomorrow for a conference twin-billing at 1:00 PM.