Fitchburg State Tripped Up 13-5 at Elms College

CHICOPEE, Mass. – The Fitchburg State baseball team absorbed a 13-5 loss at Elms College in a non-conference game at MacKenzie Stadium Monday night. The Blazers improved to 15-2 on the season, while Fitchburg State dropped to 3-7 overall.

The Falcons scored in the first as errors struck the Blazers fielding. Fitchburg sophomore Nathan Littman (Abington, Mass.) drew a leadoff walk, reached third base on an error, and then scored on an Elms throwing error to stake the Falcons to a 1-0 lead.

In the bottom of the second, the Blazers grabbed control with junior Jordan Zima (Berlin, Conn.) knocked a leadoff single and advanced to second on a misplay by the right fielder. Junior Tim Gelzinis (N. Dighton, Mass.) followed with a single up the middle, and then the pair came around to score on a bases loaded double from sophomore Dan Brunetti (Enfield, Conn.) to put the Blazers ahead 2-1. The Blazers tacked on another run behind an RBI groundout from sophomore Ben Ross (Thompson, Conn.).

The Falcons responded in the top of the third with a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Andrew Currie (Quincy, Mass.) setting the table for a two-run single down the left line from senior Robert Lewis III (Palm Coast, Fla.) to even the game at 3-3.

Elms seized back the lead in the bottom of the frame, plating four runs in the inning. With one out and the bases loaded, Brunetti struck again, ripping a two-run single into right field to regain a 5-3 lead for the Blazers. Two more runs came around to score as Falcons sophomore second baseman Mitchell Clary (Chesire, Mass.) misplayed a groundball and then made an errant throw to first, increasing the Blazers lead to 7-3. Elms added a run in the fourth with Harrison scoring on a dropped fly ball from Cleary.

The Blazers continued to do damage in the fifth with freshman Alex Hoss (Stafford Springs, Conn.) drawing a bases loaded walk to give Elms a 9-3 lead. Junior Aedin Wadja (Lebanon, Conn.) knocked an RBI single to third base, followed by a two-run single from Harrison to hand the Blazes a 12-3 advantage.

Fitchburg State chipped into the lead with an RBI singles from junior Mike St. John (Rehoboth, Mass.) in the sixth and seventh inning to make it a 12-5 game. Elms senior Nolan Medeiros (Taunton, Mass.) scored the Blazers final run, racing home on an error to secure the 13-5 win.

Brunetti led the Blazers from the dish, batting 2-for-3 with a career-high four RBIs. Zima went 2-for-5, while Harrison drove in a pair. Elms freshman Tom Owens (3-0; Suffield, Conn) earned the win, allowing five runs, four earned, on eight hits with six strikeouts.

Lewis went 2-for-4 with two RBIs for the Falcons, while Littman added a pair of hits with three runs scored. Sophomore Andrew Mooney (0-2; Framingham, Mass.) took the loss, surrendering nine runs, six earned, on four hits with three strikeouts.

The Blazers will return to the diamond with a non-conference road trip to Albertus Magnus for a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon. First pitch of game 1 is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Fitchburg State travels to Springfield College Tuesday for a 3:30 game. (Recap courtesy of Elms College Sports Information)