Falcons Draw Even With Pride, 5-5 (10 Inn)

Maki and Somers propel Falcons to non-conference stalemate 

Springfield, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University baseball team played the Springfield College Pride to a 5-5, 10 inning tie this afternoon in non-conference action at Archie Allen Field as the contest was called due to darkness.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 5, Springfield 5

Records: Fitchburg State (5-4-1) | Springfield (8-3-2)

How It Happened

Springfield College plated in runs in the first and second frames on a sacrifice fly by senior Mark Joao (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) and an RBI single off the bat of junior Brandon Russo (Lisbon, Conn.)

Fitchburg State cut into the deficit in the top of the fourth as sophomore Brandon Lefebvre (Leominster, Mass.) brought home classmate Andrew Curran (Leominster, Mass.) on sac fly before the Falcons knotted the score (2-2) in the fifth when freshman Nicholas Cordeau (Melrose, Mass.( crossed the plate on a wild pitch.

The Pride broke a 2-2 stalemate in the bottom of the eight on an RBI base knock from junior Matt Fraioli (Stamford, Conn.) and a two-run fielder's choice by freshman Jason Bean (Middleboro, Mass.) to give the hosts a 5-2 advantage.

The Green and Gold rallied in the top of the ninth however as senior Sean Maki (Fitchburg, Mass.) blasted a two-run triple to centerfield before sophomore Brennan Cuddahy (Leominster, Mass.) that brought in Maki to tie the game at 5-5.

Neither team would be able to score in the final inning, resulting in the 5-5 tie as the contest was called due to darkness after ten innings.

Inside the Numbers

Fifth meeting between the two schools on the baseball diamond with the Falcons currently 0-4-1 all-time when taking on the Pride.

Springfield had won the last four contests against Fitchburg State, including a 5-4 decision in the last meeting on March 22, 2016 at Archie Allen Field.

The Falcons were paced by Maki, who hit 2-for-4 with a triple, one run scored and two RBI, while sophomore Zachary Gull (Rutland, Mass.) finished 2-for-4 at the dish with a run scored.

For the Pride, Russo hit 3-for-5 with one run scored, while newcomer Jack Cooney (Pittsfield, Mass.) chipped in with a pair of singles and one run scored.

On the mound for Fitchburg State, senior Benjamin Chiasson (Maynard, Mass.) and junior Adam Somers (Framingham, Mass.) combined for three strikeouts over 2.2 innings of scoreless relief.

Up Next

Falcons will travel to Amherst College on Saturday to take on the Mammoths for a non-conference double header, starting at 12:00 PM. Pride will host the Lions of Emerson College on the same day for a conference twin-billing with a 12:00 PM first pitch.