Falcons Walk Off In Extras on Wild Pitch to Defeat Anna Maria College, 6-5

WORCESTER, Mass. - Fitchburg State University senior Javier Lozada singled during his only at-bat of the game before stealing consecutive bases and scoring the winning run on a wild pitch to give the Falcons a walk-off 6-5 win over Anna Maria College at Granger Field in Worcester.

The Green and Gold picked up a total 13 hits with four members having multi-hit games in the non-conference victory.

Sophomore centerfielder Andrew Currie knocked a pair of singles and picked up two RBI's and sophomore shortstop Andrew Mooney reached base four times reaching twice by way of the walk and hitting two singles.

Anna Maria had four AmCats with multi-hit games. Juniors Jonathan Roy and Joseph Fahey each had two hits and one RBI in the contest. 

The AmCats opened the game when junior James Marcel reached on a defensive error by Fitchburg State second baseman before coming around to score the game's first run – unearned (1-0).

Fitchburg State made quick work of the deficit as designated hitter Nathan Littman reached on a hit-by-pitch before swiping consecutive bases to reach third. Currie went onto drive in the runner on third, knocking a single to centerfield and tying the game at one.

In the top of the frame Anna Maria grabbed a pair, regaining its advantage as Fahey scored freshman Matt Elliot on a RBI single to centerfield before coming around to score himself (3-1).

Again the home team responded as junior Sam Brown opened up the bottom half of the second by launching his first home run of the season over the left centerfield fence to pull the Falcons within one run.  

The game went scoreless over the next four innings before Fitchburg State were able to tie it up at three as Littman cashed in with a runner at third base driving a deep fly to right field to pick up a sacrifice fly and his 11^th RBI of the season.

After Anna Maria scored yet another go-ahead run, Fitchburg State scored a pair in the bottom of the eighth when Currie drove in his second run of the game, hitting a single to left field driving in Mooney. With two outs in the inning junior left fielder Steven Drury delivered a double down the line to plate Currie and take a late lead (5-4).

The visitors were given extra life in the top of the ninth as a Fitchburg error allowed sophomore Nathan Gray to reach base before scoring the tying run on a wild pitch.

After escaping the top of the tenth unscathed Fitchburg State opened the bottom half of tenth frame with consecutive outs before Lozada singled to left field. While on third, he took advantage of a passed ball to score the winning run and secure the Falcons third straight victory, 6-5.

Fitchburg State junior Tom Gammel pitched 3.1 innings in relief allowing zero earned with one strikeout. Junior Tyler Smith grabbed his second win of the season tossing two complete and allowing just two hits for the Green and Gold.

Senior Brenden Cutler went 2-for-5, tallying his 100th career hit with a double to right field in the bottom of the sixth. 

For Anna Maria junior Zach Parker took the loss, his third of the season, after two innings pitched allowing the game winning run.

Release Courtesy of Fitchburg State Journalist Kyle Prudhomme