Falcons Win, Tie MCLA in MASCAC Doubleheader

Falcons Win, Tie MCLA in MASCAC Doubleheader

Worcester, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University baseball team rallied in the 8^th inning to defeated the Trailblazers of MCLA 11-9, and tied MCLA 5-5 in a game-shortened 6 inning match-up in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader on Monday afternoon on the campus of Assumption College.

The Basics

Game 1 Score: Fitchburg State 11, MCLA 9, final - 8 innings
Game 2 Score: Fitchburg State 5, MCLA 5, final – 6 innings

Records: Fitchburg State (6-10-2, 1-2-1 MASCAC) | MCLA (8-7-1, 1-2-1 MASCAC)

How It Happened

GAME 1

Nicholas Cordeau (Melrose, Mass.) belted a 2-RBI inside-the-park homerun in the top half of the eighth inning to propel the Falcons past the Trailblazers, after the hosts had scored nine runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to force extra innings.

The Falcons opened the game with three runs in the first frame. With the bases loaded sophomore Joshua Macomber (Berkley, Mass.) laced a single to center field scoring teammates Noah Milliard (Leominster, Mass.) and Sean Maki (Fitchburg, Mass.). Freshman Camden Santos (Fitchburg, Mass.) followed with an RBI single to make it a 3-0 game.

Fitchburg State University would add single runs in the second and fourth innings to build a 5-0 advantage. In the top of the seventh, the Falcons seemingly put the game away with a 4 run inning. Cordeau delivered a bases clearing triple to left field and scored on sophomore Alexander Bissanti's (Franklin, Mass.) infield hit to make it a 9-0 lead heading into the bottom of the last frame.

In a one-for-the record books innings, the Trailblazers sent 14 batters to the plate, scoring nine runs after there was one out. With the bases loaded and one run already in, Jeff Bink (Albany, NY) singled to left field scoring 2 runs, next Bill Pulasky (Pittsfield, Mass.) delivers an RBI single to center field to make it 9-4.  Nick DiSanti (Pittsfield, Mass.) and Christian Seariac (Framingham, Mass.)  each laced  2-RBI singles to left field later in the inning to tie the game 9-9, setting the stage for Cordeau's heroics.

GAME 2

The night cap was notched 2-2 after one inning.  The Falcons plated two off a pair of Trailblazer defensive miscues, while the hosts received a 2-run double off the bat of Brett Labonte (Wareham, Mass.).  

The Falcons added a run in the top of the third when Cordeau scored from third base on a wild pitch from pitcher Bobby New (Pittsfield, Mass.) to take a 3-2 lead.

MCLA answered back in the bottom of the frame, after opening walks to Logan Rumbolt (North Adams, Mass.) and Jeff Bink, Rumbolt scored on a ground out then Jake Ferrara (East Haven, Conn.) drove in Bink with a single to right field.

Ferrara delivered another RBI single in the fifth inning to add an insurance run for the Trailblazers. However, the Falcons evened the score, 5-5 in the top of the sixth inning. With runners on first and third, catcher Matthew Pingitore (Rutland, Mass.) doubled down the left field line scoring Noah Milliard, next Andrew Currie (Quincy, Mass.) crossed home on Trailblazers throwing error.

The game was called final after six innings of play due to darkness.

Inside the Numbers

Andrew Mooney (Framingham, Mass.) was credited with the win in game 1, with one hit and three strikeouts over 1.1 innings of relief. Brody Farnum (Bennington, Vt.) took the loss for MCLA surrendering 2 runs, 1 hit and 1 strikeout in one inning of work.

Cordeau paced all players going 5-for-10 with 4 runs scored, and 6 RBI in the two games.

LaBonte went 4-for-7 for the Trailblazers, with 1 run scored and 2 RBI's

Up Next

The Falcons travel to Keene State tomorrow to take on the Owls in a non-conference game starting at 3:30pm, while MCLA travels to Union on Wednesday for a 6pm start.