Fitchburg State Splits With Salem State
Fitchburg State Splits With Salem State
Falcons post 5-3 victory in game one; fall 5-2 in nightcap
SALEM, Mass. (April 4, 2009) - The Fitchburg State baseball team registered a two-game split with Salem State College this afternoon in MASCAC Conference action. The Falcons posted a 5-3 victory in game one before falling in the nightcap, 5-2.
Fitchburg State 5, Salem State 3
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In game one, senior Kris Breen (Griswold, Conn./Griswold) paced the Fitchburg State offense, going 2-for-3 with a homerun, one run scored and three RBI, while sophomore John Phelan (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) finished with a double and two RBI. Senior Aaron Granahan (Thomaston, Conn./Thomaston) chipped in with a double and one run scored.
Fitchburg State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Granahan belted a double and later scored, but Salem State bounced back with three runs in the bottom of the second to take a 3-1 lead. Senior Ken Luongo (Wilmington, Mass./Wilmington) ignited the Viking rally with a lead-off single while sophomore Evan Valcourt (Salisbury, Mass./Salem) posted a walk and one RBI.
The Falcons responded with four runs over the final four innings to clinch their 11th victory of the season. Breen led the Fitchburg State comeback with a two-run homerun (4) in fourth inning, while Phelan laced an RBI double in the seventh to plate two.
Freshman Michal Mercier (Townsend, Mass./Saint Bernards) picked up his first collegiate victory (1-0), tossing five shutout innings while scattering only three hits. Freshman Matt Kerr (E. Freetown, Mass./Apponequet) suffered the loss for the Vikings, tossing a complete game, six-hitter while striking out eight.
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Salem State 5, Fitchburg State 2
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In game two, Salem State rebounded for a 5-2 victory led by the bat Luongo and freshman Chris Cocci (Wakefield, R.I./The Prout School). Luongo finished 1-for-2 for the Vikings with a homerun, one run scored and three RBI, while Cocci finished with a team-high two hits, one run scored and one RBI.
Junior Matt Morrison (Beverly, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) led the Fitchburg State attack with a 2-for-3 day with a run scored, while Granahan and senior Andy Sauer (Willington, Conn./E.O. Smith) tallied two hits apiece.
Fitchburg State broke the four inning scoring drought with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth frame, but Salem State rallied for five runs in the bottom of the inning to secure its tenth victory of the season. Cocci ignited the Viking rally with an RBI single, while Luongo connected for a three-run homerun to put Salem State on top for good.
Freshman Tyler Kendrick (Montague, Mass./Smith) suffered the loss for the Falcons, yielding five runs (three earned) over 4.1 innings of work. Senior Alan Miner (Rochester, Mass./Old Rochester) earned the victory for the Vikings, allowing only one earned run with ten strikeouts in the complete game effort.
Fitchburg State (11-7, 2-2 MASCAC) will be back in action on Tuesday as it travels to Suffolk University at 4 p.m. Salem State (10-10, 1-3 MASCAC) will host Becker College on Tuesday at 3 p.m.