Fitchburg State Falls To UMass Boston, 12-9

Beacons hold off Falcon comeback with three runs over final two frames  

FITCHBURG, Mass. (March 29, 2011) – The Fitchburg State baseball team dropped a tough 12-9 decision to non-conference foe, UMass Boston at Riccards Field this afternoon.

UMass Boston scored 12 runs on 15 hits as the Beacons were able to fight off a Fitchburg State comeback and post their fifth victory of the season. The Beacons were led offensively by senior Conner Reinfurt (Manchester, N.H./Northfield Mt. Herman) who finished 2-for-5 with a homerun, two runs scored and three RBI. Classmate Ryan Walsh (Newton, Mass./Newton) was also solid, going 2-for-3 with a homer, two RBI and three runs scored, while junior Mark McCormack (Shelton, Conn./Shelton) notched a 3-for-4 performance with a double and a pair of RBI.

Senior Nick Rocheleau (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) sparked the Fitchburg State offense with a 3-for-5 day, including an RBI and one run scored, while classmate Brian Ware (Beverly. Mass./Beverly) finished 2-for- with two RBI. Senior Dave Alexander (Torrington, Conn./Torrington) chipped in with a two-run single.

Sophomore Tom Cole (Mattapoisett, Mass./Old Rochester) picked up the win for the Beacons allowing three earned runs on eight hits (3 K's) in six innings of work, while freshman Gabe May (Portsmouth, N.H./Portsmouth) pitched the final two innings to pick up his first save of the year. Sophomore Tynan Flegg (Calgary, AB/National Sports Academy) suffered the setback for the Falcons, allowing eight earned runs on eight hits (1 K) in three innings of work.

UMass Boston quickly went up 9-0 after five innings of play, keyed by a two-run homer by Reinfurt and a two-run double by McCormack. Despite facing an uphill battle, Fitchburg State cut the Beacon lead to 9-3 in the sixth on RBI singles by Rocheleau and senior John Phelan (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) and eventually narrowed its deficit to only one (9-8) with a five run, seventh frame.

The Falcons comeback attempt fell just short however as the Beacons put the game away, scoring three runs over the final two innings paced by a crucial two-run homerun from Walsh. Junior pitcher Perry Russo (East Hartford, Conn./East Hartford) kept Fitchburg State in the contest with five innings of three-run relief work, while senior Marshall Miller (Greenfield, Mass./Greenfield) tossed a one-run ninth.

Fitchburg State (5-7, 0-0 MASCAC) returns to action on Thursday as it hosts Newbury College at 3:30 p.m. UMass Boston (5-7, 0-0 LEC) visits Saint Joseph's College (Me.) tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.