Drew Rallies Past Fitchburg State, 10-9

Boice lone Falcons with two hits in non-conference contest

AUBURNDALE, Fla. (March 12, 2012) – The Fitchburg State baseball team registered nine hits and nine runs but fell to the Drew University Rangers, 10-9 at the Lake Myrtle Baseball Complex in Auburndale, Florida.

Trailing 9-8 in the top of the eighth inning, Drew rallied for two runs on three hits, plating the eventual game-winner with a two-run single from Neil Cashes (Little Silver, N.J./Red Bank Regional). Back-to-back bunt base hits from Steve Kowalski (Robbinsville, N.J./Robbinsville) and Matthew Kaplon (Palisades Park, N.J./Palisades Park) started the rally for the Rangers, before a wild pitch set up both runners in scoring position for Cashes.

Drew built an early two run lead (2-0) through the first three innings of play, using a successful squeeze bunt from Dominic Reyes (Jersey City, N.J./Ferris) and a sac fly from Kaplon in the third but Fitchburg State grabbed a trio of runs in the bottom of the third inning as Frank Yavorosky (Westminster, mass./Narragansett), Mike Szajner (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) and Cody Bamforth (Vernon, Conn./Rockville) crossed the plate. Yavorosky and Szajner used a walk and single to center to get on base before scoring on a wild pitch and Ranger error, while Bamforth also took advantage of a Drew mishap to touch home.

Drew knotted the score in the top of the fourth inning, using an RBI single from Drew Obergfell (Cranford, N.J./Roselle Catholic), but the Falcons responded again with a run of its own in the bottom half of the frame as senior Jake Alves (Gloucester, Mass./Gloucester) crossed the plate after leading off with a single to right field.

In the fifth, Drew regained the lead, tacking on five runs with four hits, including a huge two-run double from Obergfell. Fitchburg State did not back down however, fighting back in the sixth inning with five runs to take a 9-8 advantage. An RBI groundout from Yavorosky, sacrifice fly from Szajner, and a line drive single from Bamforth kick started the scoring surge while an RBI single from Shawn Trombley (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) capped the Falcons hitting explosion.

The Falcons lead was short-lived however as the Rangers strung together a trio of hits in the top of the eighth to go ahead for good. Junior Zachary Bombria (Bolton, Conn./Bolton) suffered the loss for the Falcons, yielding three runs (two earned) on six hits over 4.2 IP.  Cody Cummings (Staten Island, N.Y./Staten Island Academy) earned the victory in relief for the Rangers, tossing a scoreless inning and a third, while Pat Rock (Cranston, R.I./Providence Country Day) came on for a two inning save, posting two K's in the process.

Junior Jeff Boice (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) was the lone Falcon with a pair of hits, finishing 2-for-5 with one run scored, while Yavorosky went 1-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI. Bamforth was also solid with a hit, two runs scored and one RBI.

Fitchburg State (0-5, 0-0 MASCAC) will be back in action tomorrow as it Endicott College at 11 a.m. Drew (4-1, 0-0 LC) will square off vs. Vassar College tomorrow afternoon.