Falcons Pick Up Conference Sweep Over Vikings

Malek and Sharp lead Green and Gold to pair of MASCAC victories

Salem, Mass. - The Fitchburg State University baseball earned a sweep over the Vikings of Salem State University this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action by the scores of 4-3 and 6-0.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 4, Salem State 3 (Gm1)
Score: Fitchburg State 6, Salem State 0 (Gm2)

Records: Fitchburg State (5-19, 2-4 MASCAC) I Salem State (11-9, 3-3 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Game One

Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the top half of the third when graduate student Connor Morehouse (Wetherby Lake, Mo.) launched his fourth home run of the season over the center field fence for the 1-0 edge.

Salem State took the lead in the bottom of the fifth as senior Brahiam Ortega (Lawrence, Mass.) tripled to center field to plate junior Matthew Casare (No. Caldwell, N.J.) before sophomore Jake Boucher (Wallingford, Conn.) laced a single to left field to bring in Ortega for the 2-1 margin.

The Green and Gold answered in the top of the sixth with Morehouse and senior Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.) reaching on back-to-back singles, while junior Zachary Malek (Schenectady, N.Y.) connected on his first collegiate home run, a three run shot to left to make the score 4-2

The Vikings cut into the deficit in the bottom of the seventh as junior Christian Burt (Lynn, Mass.) reached on a base hit to right, moved to third on a ground out and single by sophomore Samuel Erskine (Killingworth, Conn.) before Boucher notched an RBI fielder's choice to score pinch runner Wilbur Rosario Morel (Lynn, Mass.) but the Falcons held on for the 4-3, game one victory.

Game Two

Fitchburg State grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the third innings as Sharp singled through the left side to plate sophomore Silas Thomas (Sequim, Wash.), while Eramo added an RBI base hit to left field to score Morehouse.

The Falcons upped their margin in the top of the fifth when Morehouse was hit by pitch, stole second, move third on a sacrifice bunt and crossed the plate on sacrifice fly off the bat of sophomore Christopher Masta (Peabody, Mass.).

The Green and Gold secured the victory in the top half of the sixth frame with freshman Liam Goldstein (Charlestown, R.I.) reaching on a fielding miscue, while junior Jaime Velez (Lowell, Mass.) and Morehouse reached on a base knock and an intentional walk to load the base. Sharp then proceeded to lace a bases clearing triple to right field that scored Goldstein, Velez and Morehouse, resulting in the 6-0, game two triumph.

By The Numbers

• 110th meeting between the two squads on the diamond with the Falcons 24-86 against the Vikings
• Malek led the way for the Green and Gold, going 1-for-3 with a home run, one run scored and three RBI
• Graduate student Richard Sharp (Townsend, Mass.) picked up the win for Fitchburg State, allowing two runs on four hits with three K's in five innings of work
• Senior Matthew Ambrosino (Bradenton, Fla.) picked up his first collegiate save for the Falcons, allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout over two innings pitched
• For the Vikings, Boucher went 1-for-4 with two RBI
• Freshman Mason Consigli (Northbridge, Mass.) suffered the setback, giving up four runs on six hits with a pair of punchouts in 5.2 innings of work
• Sharp hit a perfect 3-for-3 with a triple and four RBI for Fitchburg State
• Boucher lead Salem State's game two offense, going 2-for-4 with a double
• Senior Brendan Ferrell (Plymouth, Mass.) collected the win for the Falcons, yielding just three hits with three strikeouts in five innings of work
• For the Vikings, senior Juan Hurtado (Homestead, Fla.) took the loss, giving up two runs on six hits with one K over two innings of work

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Tuesday as they host the Lynx of Lesley University for a non-conference matchup, starting at 3:00 PM.