Fitchburg State Clipped By Clark, 8-7
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Fitchburg St. | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 9 | 1 |
|
Clark University | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 1 |
Maki and Currie combine to drive in five runs for the Falcons in non-conference setback
WORCESTER, Mass. –The Fitchburg State University baseball team returned to action this afternoon, dropping a tough 8-7 decision to the Cougars of Clark University in non-conference action at the Granger Diamond.
Junior Sean Maki led the way for the Falcons, going 2-for-5 with a double and three runs batted in, while classmate Andrew Currie finished 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI. For Clark, senior Adam Chochrek went 2-for-4, including two doubles, one run scored and two RBI, while junior Teddy Downing added two doubles and three runs scored for the Cougars.
Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the top of the third as freshman Brandon Lefebvre walked, moved to second on sacrifice bunt and scored following single to left field off the bat of Maki for the 1-0 lead.
The Falcons upped its advantage (3-0) in the top of fourth when sophomore Brennan Cuddahy and freshman Andrew Curran drew back-to-back walks and newcomer Cooper Bigelow was hit by a pitch to load the bases before Currie singled to center to plate Cuddahy and Curran.
Clark knotted the score at 3-3 in the bottom half of the fourth as freshman Colin Porter reached on a throwing miscue that brought classmate Derek Lefebvre and Downing home, while fellow freshman Rudy Sarro drove in newcomer Jake Vera.
The Green and Gold regained the lead in the top of the sixth when Lefebvre brought home Cuddahy on a sacrifice fly before Maki connected on a two-run double through the left side to score Currie and senior Nathan Littman to make the score 7-3.
The Cougars responded with three run in the bottom of the seventh (7-6) as Chochrek doubled to left field to plate freshman Kyle Shaw and Downing, while D.Lefebvre added an RBI single two batters later.
The hosts grabbed the lead for good in the bottom half of the eighth when junior Kyle Bonicki singled, moved to third on double by Downing before Chochek blasted his second two-run double of the contest to give the Cougars an 8-7 edge.
Fitchburg State nearly retied the contest in the top of the ninth as senior Mike St. John reached on a throwing miscue, advanced to second on a walk by junior Andrew Mooney, but Downing proceeded to strike out the next three batters, resulting in the 8-7 final.
On the mound, freshman Kyle Nocera allowed three unearned runs on two hits in 4.2 innings of work with four K's for the Falcons in a no decision, while sophomore Daniel Davidoff picked up the win for Clark, giving up just two hits and one walk in 2.1 innings of relief.
Fitchburg State (4-7, 0-0 MASCAC) returns to action on Saturday as it hosts the Leopards of Wentworth Institute for a double header at Plymouth North High School, starting at 3 p.m. Clark (11-2, 0-0 NEWMAC) will host the Raiders of Rivier University tomorrow at 3 p.m.