Fitchburg State Completes Sweep Worcester State, Winning 7-6 in 13 Innings

WORCESTER, Mass. --- Fitchburg State baseball resumed the second game of a doubleheader with Worcester State, defeating the Lancers by the final of 7-6 as Brendan Cutler delivered the go-ahead run in the top of the 13^th, giving the Falcons their first sweep of Worcester State since 1994.

Cutler led the offense in game two with a 4-for-7 performance at the dish, with two doubles, and the driving in the winning run. Teammate Steven Drury finished 4-for-5 and senior Javier Lozada added three hits.

Fitchburg State starter Tom Gammell allowed five earned runs through five innings pitched, scattering 12 hits and striking out a pair while right-hander Andrew Lessard pitched the final two innings allowing no runs and earning his first win in relief.

The two conference foes exchanged one-run innings in each of the first two before Fitchburg State gained separation in the top of the third as a defensive miscue allowed Drury to score for the Falcons for a 3-2 lead.

In the top of the fifth the Green and Gold plated a pair when sophomore Andrew Mooney scored two with a triple into left-center to give the visitors their largest lead of the contest (5-2).

In the home-half of the frame Worcester State struck for three runs to tie the score as a single off the bat of Mike Ferrara brought home two before Dan McGuill brought in Brian Bonacquisti with the fourth single of the inning (5-5).

The offenses went silent as Fitchburg State rode solid relief outings from three different arms until finally going ahead in the top of the 11^th – starting when Nathan Littman reached base on a walk, stole second, and reached third on a passed ball before Drury doubled to right field to bring him in (6-5).

But with their backs to the wall, Worcester State knotted the score, as junior Adam Barry singled through the infield to bring home senior John Boyd for the tying run (6-6).

Fitchburg State jumped ahead for good in the top of the 13^th when Cutler drove a double deep enough to score Littman from first base and put the visitors ahead for the final time (7-6).

The next half inning, Lessard put down the top of the order one-two-three, striking out the final batter of the game to secure the 7-6 win.  

Senior right-handed pitcher John Boyd was hit with the loss for Worcester State after five innings of relief allowing two earned runs off four hits while striking out six batters. Worcester State was led by left fielder Jake Ryan and his 3-for-7 game at the plate. Five other Lancers finished with multi-hit ballgames in the conference sweep.

Fitchburg State (16-17; 9-3) host its final conference match-up of the season April 30^th against Salem State with a doubleheader beginning at 12:00 P.M.

Worcester State (12-15; 1-11) will travel to take-on MCLA on the same day for a doubleheader starting at 12:00 P.M.