Fitchburg State Splits Doubleheader with Wentworth Institute of Technology

FITCHBURG, Mass. - The Fitchburg State University baseball team split a non-conference doubleheader with Wentworth Institute of Technology, falling in game one 5-4 before taking the nightcap in an offensive bout ending with the hosts on top by the final score of 9-7 at Riccards Field.

The Green and Gold were out-hit in the two game set by a margin of 20-18 while the pitchers for each team were able to pick up 11 strikeouts on the day.

Defense was shaky for each team as the Leopards picked up five errors on the day with the Falcons being hit with six miscues.

Fitchburg State (5-9) will return to Riccards Field in its next contest to take on Rivier College on Monday March 28th with first pitch set for 3:00 P.M.

Wentworth Institute of Technology (5-9) have its second straight road game traveling to take on Becker College on March 28th starting at 4:00 P.M. 

Game One 

Late offense from both teams overshadows a strong pitching duel between Tommy Parsons and Aaron Denis as Fitchburg State's seventh inning two-run rally falls short in game one. Wentworth Institute of Technology used a four-run top of the seventh inning to get past the Falcons and take the first of the series.

 Sophomore Tommy Parsons received the loss for the Green and Gold putting his season record at 2-2. The left-hander went 6 1/3^rd innings allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits while picking up eight strikeouts, a season high for Parsons.  

His opposition, Aaron Denis, evened his season record at 2-2 going 6 1/3^rd innings and striking out seven Falcons while allowing seven hits.

Wentworth jumped out ahead in the top of the third inning after freshman right fielder Ross Golebiewski took advantage of a defensive miscue in the outfield and taking second base to get into scoring position. He was drove in by sophomore Tim Elrick when he hit a double into the gap in right-center to score the games first run, unearned, for the Leopards. (1-0).

Pitching took over for most of the action keeping the 1-0 score intact until the bottom of the sixth inning when Fitchburg State took its first lead. Junior left-fielder Steven Drury began the inning with a walk and the next batter, senior right-fielder Rob Lewis, wasted no time launching the first pitch of the at-bat into the gap in left center to drive in the runner from first and tie the game (1-1). Following a past-ball allowing Lewis to advance to third freshman Riley Shea hit a ground ball to the short-stop and the Falcon runner was able to score the go-ahead run (2-1).

The next half inning Wentworth scored four runs knocking the Fitchburg State starter out of the contest after a pair of hits from the Leopards. Junior right-hander Tyler Smith came in for relief before pinch-hitter senior Sam McManus picked up an infield single to load the bases. The next batter, Tyler Weninger cleared the bases with a gapping double to retake the lead for the Leopards 4-2 before he was driven in on a single by shortstop Jimmy Temte (5-2).

In the bottom of the seventh Fitchburg State showed some life as Nathan Littman began the inning with a walk before Brendan Cutler one-hopped the fence in left field for a RBI double to bring him around the bases and draw within two-runs (5-3). After Cutler took third base on a ground-out, sophomore Luis Ortiz came into the game as a pinch-hitter to drive in the runner from third (5-4) forcing Wentworth starter Denis from the game.

Senior Corey Jerolimon came in for relief and was able to get the final two outs of the game as Fitchburg State left the tying run stranded at third base.

Cutler and Drury finished the game with two hits apiece at the plate for the Falcons going 2-for-4 and 2-for-2 respectively.

Weninger and Golebiewski each had two hit games with Weninger driving in a game-high three RBI on the go-ahead double in the top of the seventh inning.

Game Two

Fitchburg State batted around the order in the first-inning scoring six runs off Wentworth starting pitcher Tim Weninger and never failing to hold the lead to salvage game-two of the double header by a final score of 9-7.

Senior right-hander Javier Lozada allowed just two earned runs through 5 1/3^rd innings pitched while striking out three and scattering eight hits to pick up his first win of the 2016 season in his third game started.

Weninger tossed six complete innings allowing eleven hits and five earned runs and striking out three en route to his fourth loss of the season.

Early defensive woes allowed Wentworth to take a first inning lead as two errors in the infield gave the visitors the 1-0 advantage on just one hit.

The next half inning senior catcher Nathan Littman started game-two for the hosts by driving a double into the right-center gap and the next batter was drove home when Brendan Cutler found the outfield grass with a RBI single (1-1). Following a RBI sacrifice fly by Riley Shea the designated hitter Mike St. John was able to sneak a single inside the foul line and by the glove of the diving right-fielder to take a two run lead (3-1). Back-to-back RBI singles from Roel Fernandez and Drew Mazzeo added to the lead before Mazzeo scored from third on a wild pitch (6-1).

Defensive miscues continued for the Green and Gold in the top half of the second inning as a pair of errors by the Falcon infield allowed Wentworth to jump on Lozada for three runs on just one hit (6-4).

After a scoreless third inning from both teams Wentworth Institute of Technology resumed the scoring in the fourth as Falcons starting pitcher Lozada found himself in a bases loaded jam after walking a pair of runners. Junior Jordan Burst worked a bases loaded RBI base on balls for the Leopards (6-5), but was the only damage done in the inning for the visitors as the next batter bounced out to second base.

In the bottom of the fourth the Green and Gold added a pair after Littman reached base for the second time of the game with a walk before Cutler advanced him with a double. After Rob Lewis drove home the runner at third with a sacrifice fly, Shea picked up his second RBI of the game knocking in Cutler with a single to centerfield (8-5).

Wentworth were able to score a run in the sixth and seventh innings before Fitchburg State sophomore Andrew Mooney came in for a four-out save opportunity, grabbing his first save of 2016, and shutting the door on game two for 9-7.

Cutler, Littman, and Fernandez all finished game-two with two hits apiece. Shea added a team-high two RBI on a 1-for-3 game at the dish.

For Wentworth left-fielder Tim Elrick had a game-high three hits going 3-for-3 at the plate and driving in two. Christian Ferri and Matt Smith each finished game two with a pair of hits and Jordan Burst drove in a pair of runs for the Leopards.