Fitchburg State Splits 2014 Season-Opener

Falcons down Messiah 11-5 in game one; fall 4-0 to Dickinson in game two

NEW MARKET, Va. (March 3, 2014) – The Fitchburg State baseball team opened its 2014 season this weekend as it traveled to New Market, Virginia to take on the Falcons of Messiah College and the Red Devils of Dickinson College in a pair of nine-innings contests.

In the opener, Fitchburg State earned an 11-5 victory over Messiah College as freshman Joe St. Hilaire (Chelmsford, Mass.) tossed seven strong innings in his first collegiate start. The right-hander yielded just four hits and two runs (one earned) as he struck out six and only walked three. Junior Ryan Magni (W. Springfield, Mass.) came on in the ninth to shut the door with two strikeouts in the inning.

At the plate, the Falcons erupted for 15 hits in the first contest of the year with freshman Steven Drury, Jr. (Ashburnham, Mass.) leading the way. Drury finished 3-of-4 with two runs scored and four RBI as he belted his first collegiate homerun to go with a double to left center. Junior Patrick McMahon (S. Windsor, Conn.) was also sold with a 4-for-6 performance, while freshman Joe Lyons (W. Roxbury, Mass.) finished with a pair of hits. Junior Pierce Hans (Washington Township, N.J. ) chipped in with a double, two runs scored and one RBI.

In the nightcap, Fitchburg State ran into a buzzsaw as the Red Devils of Dickinson College quieted the Falcon bats en route to a 4-0 victory.

Drury and Lyons were the lone Falcons to register hits, combining for four base-knocks throughout the contest. On the hill, freshman Kyle Cutler (Lancaster, Mass.) was impressive in his first collegiate outing, tossing 6.2 solid innings. The freshman hurler allowed just two hits and one earned run while striking out ten and walking four.

Fitchburg State (1-1, 0-0 MASCAC) will be back in action this Saturday as it battles Colby-Sawyer College as part of the RussMatt Baseball Tournament in Winter Haven, Fla.