Falcons Split Twinbill with Fighting Scots

Davenport, Fla. – The Fitchburg State University baseball team split a doubleheader with the Fighting Scots of Gordon College in marathon non-conference action this afternoon at Northeast Regional Park. The Falcons took game one 6-2, and dropped game two 5-4 in nine innings.

The Basics

Game 1 Score: Fitchburg State 6, Gordon 2
Game 2 Score: Fitchburg State 4, Gordon 5 (9 innings)
Records: Fitchburg State (1-6) | Gordon (4-6)

How It Happened – Game 1

The Falcons plated a pair of unearned runs in the first inning. Leadoff batter Brendan Ferrell (Plymouth, Mass.) reached on an error and scored on senior Zachary Morris' (Salem, Mass.) triple to left-centerfield. Morris would come home on a groundout from Richard Sharp (Townsend, Mass.).

Gordon would tack on a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, but great defense from the Falcons when centerfielder Cole DuHaime (Warminster, PA) cut down the runner at the plate for the double play to end the inning.

Senior Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.) led off the top of the fifth inning with a solo home run to left field to extend the lead to 3-1. The Green and Gold added another run in the inning with an RBI single from Morris, scoring newcomer Ethan Blanchette (San Antonio, TX).

After a lengthy rain delay, the Falcons added two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning off a pair of defensive miscues by the Scots.

Inside the Numbers

• Falcons freshman hurler Robert Clarke (Plymouth, Mass.) had a strong performance in his second appearance this season.  He pitched 5 innings with one earned run, and two strikeouts for the W.
• Freshman Matthew Wilson (Bellingham, Mass.) pitched the final two innings for Fitchburg State, notching a pair of K's to earn the save.
• Gordon pitcher Jacob Hitchcock (Goodyear, Ariz.) went five innings surrendering 2 earned runs, with three walks and 2 strikeouts in the loss.

How It Happened – Game 2

Gordon put two on the board in the top of the first on RBIs from junior Andrew Hartman (Bethel, Conn.) and Robert Dunkle (Trumbull, Conn.). The Falcons countered in the bottom of the frame. Ferrell was hit-by-pitch to open the inning and advanced to third on a double to left-center from Morris. Junior Jaime Velez (Lowell, Mass.) scored Ferrell with a groundout to first base.

Both teams added runs in the third inning, trailing 3-1 Jaimie Velez picked up his second RBI of the game for the Green and Gold with a single through the right side.

The Fighting Scots once again took a two-run lead on an RBI single from David Melendez (Palm Harbor, Fla.) in the top of the sixth inning. In the bottom of the inning, Eramo delivered a double to left centerfield scoring Velez, who had reached on an error to start the inning keeping it a 4-3 game.

The Falcons were down to their last chance in the bottom of the seventh inning, with one out DuHaime was hit-by-a-pitch and Ferrell hit a single up the middle to put runners on first and second. The Scots brought in relief pitcher Brandon Bloom (Peabody, Mass.) who hit a pair of Falcons to plate the game-tying run and head to extra innings.

In the top of the ninth inning, junior Shane Demers (Sandy Hook, Conn.) blasted a solo home run to give Gordon the 5-4 win.

Inside the Numbers

• Freshman Joseph Hartnett (North Attleboro, Mass.) had a strong performance on the bump. He had nine strikeouts, including two innings of striking out the side, three earned runs on two hits over five innings.
• Gabriel Johnson (Fitchburg, Mass.) went four innings for the Falcons, with 5 strikeouts, five hits, and two earned runs in the loss.
• Bloom picked up his second win of the season for Gordon, while Andrew Marzetta (Rumford, RI) notched the save in one inning of relief.

Up Next

The Falcons will face Oberlin College on Thursday afternoon at the Lake Myrtle Complex starting at 2:30 PM.

Photo Credit: Kendall Bukuras, Gordon SID