Fitchburg State Splits With Worcester State

Falcons fall 10-0 in game one; rebound with 5-4 ten inning victory in game two

FITCHBURG, Mass. (April 21, 2013) – The Fitchburg State University baseball team split a MASCAC double-header this afternoon against Worcester State, falling 10-0 in game one before capturing a 5-4 decision over ten innings in the nightcap. 

Worcester State 15-18, 7-5 MASCAC) jumped out to an early four run lead in the top half of the first inning of game one.

The Lancers added two more in the following inning when Kurt Sabacinski (Worcester, Mass.) drove home sophomore Steve Wallace (Auburn, Mass.) on an infield single and David Ruggiero (Peabody, Mass) advanced home on a throwing error.

The Lancers tacked on a pair of runs in each the fifth and sixth innings for the 10-0 final.

George finished with a pair of doubles to go along with two RBI's and two runs scored while Ubele added a 3-for-4 performance with one run batted in at the dish.

Senior Cody Bamforth (Vernon, Conn.) recorded a pair of singles as the only multi-hit standout for the Falcons.

Second-year Cody Osburn (Sacramento, Calif.) picked up the win improving his record to 3-0 on the season. Osburn hurled all seven innings scattering eight hits while issuing two walks and fanning three on the bump for Worcester State. Senior Dylan Smith (New London, Conn.) absorbed the set-back for Fitchburg State. Smith (2-2) went the first four frames giving up eight runs (six earned) on nine hits with two free passes.

In the nightcap, Worcester State once again grabbed a first inning run in game two as sophomore Rob MacDonald (Waltham, Mass.) hit an RBI double to center for the 1-0 edge, but Fitchburg State answered in the bottom half of the third as junior David Mason (Leominster, Mass.) recorded a run producing infield single knotting the score at 1-1.

Worcester State jumped back out in front in the top of the sixth when Osburn singled through the right side driving home George who was hit by a pitch to start the inning.
Fitchburg State wasted little time tilting the score in their favor in the bottom half of the frame, plating a pair of runs for the 3-2 advantage.

Mason crossed home with the equalizer on a single by sophomore Pierce Hans (Washington Township, NJ), who then scored the go ahead run on a single to left field by senior Jeff Boice (Glastonbury, Conn.) two batters later.

The Lancers got the lead back in the top half of the seventh on run producing singles by Sabacinski and George for the 4-3 score, but
the Falcons continued the sea-saw battle and came right back to tie the contest at 4-4 in their last at bat sending the game into extra innings. Junior Joseph Balboni (Townsend, Mass.) singled up the middle to plate first-year Roel Fernandez (Cape Coral, Fla.) with the game-tying run with two man down.

Fitchburg State ended the game in the 10th inning when junior Matt Zajac (New Hartford, Conn.) opened the frame with an infield single and was sacrificed into scoring position by Hans. Senior AJ Silberman (Meriden, Conn.) then singled up the middle and pitch runner Rafael Figuereo (Dorchester, Mass.) raced home for the 5-4 final.

Senior Zachary Bombria (Bolton, Conn.) hurled the final four frames to pick up the victory for Fitchburg State. Bombria (3-2) allowed just two hits while fanning three after replacing classmate Pat Mercier (Townsend, Mass.) who tossed the first six innings allowing four runs on 10 hits with a pair of walks and three punch outs in the no-decision.

Fitchburg State (13-18-1, 4-8 MASCAC) will be back in action tomorrow as it visits Daniel Webster College at 3:30 p.m.