Fitchburg State Downs Maine Presque-Isle

Falcons post 6-1 victory in game one; register convincing 14-2 win in game two

FITCHBURG, Mass. (March 27, 2011) – The Fitchburg State baseball team swept the University of Maine Presque Isle in a non-conference double header at Riccards Field this afternoon. The Falcons posted a 6-1 victory in game one before downing the Owls 14-2 in the nightcap.

Fitchburg State 6, ME Presque-Isle 1

In game one, Fitchburg State junior Michal Mercier (Townsend, Mass./Saint. Bernards) took a no-hitter into seventh inning before allowing an infield single to sophomore Stephen Thorne (Dalhousie, Neb.) to lead off the final frame for the Owls. Mercier earned the complete game victory for the Falcons, allowing one unearned run and one hit, while posting 8 K's. Sophomore Jake Fillebrown (Stoneham, Maine) took the loss for Maine, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits (4 K's).

On the offensive end, Fitchburg State received a solid outing from junior Frank Yavorosky (Westminster, Mass./Narragansett) who went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a pair of RBI's. Sophomore Cody Bamforth (Vernon, Conn./Rockville) was also strong, hitting 2-for-3 with an RBI and one run scored.

After two scoreless innings of play, Fitchburg State grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the third, using a passed ball and run scoring single by Bamforth to break its scoring silence. The Falcons added to their lead in the following inning, taking advantage of an Owl error to plate a single run before capping its scoring with a three-run, fifth inning. Yavorosky sparked the Falcons with the big hit of the inning, a two-run single to centerfield, while freshman David Mason (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) added an RBI with a hit by pitch.

Fitchburg State 14, ME Presque-Isle 2

In game two, the Fitchburg State offense busted through in a big way, scoring 14 runs on 12 hits for its fifth victory of the season.

Sophomore Jeff Boice (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) lifted the Falcons, going 3-for-4 with a trio of doubles, four runs scored and four RBI, while senior Dave Alexander (Torrington, Conn./Torrington) went 2-for-3 with a homerun and three RBI.

Maine Presque-Isle jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the opening inning as sophomore Carlos Villoria (Caracas, Venezuela) drove in the first Owl run with an RBI ground out but Fitchburg State quickly responded, plating a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning for a 2-1 advantage. The Falcons padded their lead (4-1) in the third on a pair of base hits from Boice and senior Nick Rocheleau (Leominster, Mass./Leominster), but the Owls cut their deficit to 4-2 in the fourth inning on Fillebrown single.

Fitchburg State put the game away in the fifth inning, using a ten run explosion and a two-run homerun by Alexander to seal the win. Sophomore Alex Teal (Malden, Mass./Malden) earned the victory for Fitchburg State, allowing just two earned runs over five innings of work. Classmate Tynan Flegg (Calgary, AB/National Sport Academy) worked a scoreless sixth and seventh for the Falcons, striking out one.

Fitchburg State (5-6, 0-0 MASCAC) returns to action on Tuesday as it hosts UMass Boston at 3:30 p.m. Maine Presque-Isle (1-12, 0-0 NAIA) returns to action tomorrow as it travels to Gordon College for a double header starting at 1:00 p.m.