Fitchburg State Explodes Past Rivier, 15-2

Falcons use nine hits and ten walk to collect ninth victory of the season

FITCHBURG, Mass. (April 13, 2010) - The Fitchburg State baseball team snapped its two-game losing streak this afternoon as the Falcons exploded past Rivier College, 15-2 in non-conference action.

ANDREW FOSTER

Fitchburg State used a combination of timely hitting and plate patience, belting out nine hits and collecting ten walks. Junior Dave Alexander (Torrington, Conn./Torrington) led the Falcon attack again, finishing 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and one run scored, while sophomore Andrew Foster (E. Bridgewater, Mass./E. Bridgewater) added a 1-for-2 day with a trio of walks and three runs scored .

Freshman Andrew Manning (Burlington, Mass./Arlington Catholic) and sophomore Bobby Ewing (South Dennis, Mass./Dennis-Yarmouth) sparked the Falcons off the bench, combining for three hits, two runs scored and three RBI. Manning jolted the Fitchburg State lineup with his first collegiate hit (double) and a pair of RBI, while Ewing hit a perfect 2-for-2 with one run scored and one RBI.

Facing an early 1-0 deficit, Fitchburg State erupted for 11 runs in the third frame to grab a commanding ten point lead (11-1). The Falcons took advantage of four Rivier errors, seven walks and four wild pitches to plate their runs as junior Nick Rocheleau (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) capped the inning with a three-run single to right field.

In the fourth, Fitchburg State continued to pressure the Rivier pitching staff, adding three runs on three hits and one walk. Manning plated a pair of runs in the Falcons rally with a line-drive double down left field while also scoring on a Raider error.

Senior Corey Donovan (Lowell, Mass./Lowell) earned the victory on the mound for Fitchburg State (1-0), going the first five innings with only one earned run, three hits and two strikeouts. Senior Matt Morrison (Beverly, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) and freshman Mike McLaughlin (Boston, Mass./Boston Latin) each tossed a solid inning in relief for the Falcons, while junior Tyler Eaton (Waterville, Maine/Waterville) suffered the loss for the Raiders, yielding seven runs (four earned) over the first 2.1 innings of the contest.

Fitchburg State (9-9, 1-3 MASCAC) will be back in action on Thursday as it travels to Elms College at 7:30 p.m. Rivier (3-17, 2-8 GNAC) will visit Newbury College tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.

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Fitchburg State 15, Rivier 2