Falcons Salvage MASCAC Split With Lancers

Eramo collects 100^th career hit

Worcester, Mass. - The Fitchburg State University baseball team split a conference double header with the Lancers of Worcester State University this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from the Kevin Lyons Diamond as the Lancers notched a 5-3 triumph in the opener before the Falcons salvaged a split with a 7-4 victory in the nightcap.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 3, Worcester State 5 (Game One)
Score Fitchburg State 7, Worcester State 4 (Game Two)

Records: Fitchburg State (7-27, 3-12 MASCAC) I Worcester State (17-12, 11-4 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Game One

Fitchburg State opened the scoring I the top of first inning as graduate student Connor Morehouse (Wetherby Lake, Mo.) doubled to left field and scored on an RBI single to left field off the bat of senior Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.) for the 1-0 edge.

Worcester State proceeded to load the bases in the bottom of the first on a fielder's choice, a hit by pitch and single from senior Sean Devin (Lynn, Mass.), but Falcon hurler Matthew Ambrosino (Bradenton, Fla) stuck out the next two hitters to work out of the jam.

The Lancers grabbed the lead in the bottom half of the second when sophomore Thomas Halliwell (Leominster, Mass.) laced a two-run single to right center, while Devin followed with a two RBI double to center to make the score 4-1,

Worcester State tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the third with freshman Anthony Iamarone (Providence, R.I.) doubling to center field, moved to third on a fly out and crossed the plate on a wild pitch for the 5-1 lead.

The Green and Gold answered in the top of the seventh as Morehouse singled to left center, advanced to second on a base hit by Eramo before Morehouse and Eramo came around to score on a fielding miscue, but that's as close as the Falcons would get as the Lancers held on for the 5-3, game one victory.

By The Numbers

• Eramo paced the  Falcons, hitting 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI
• Ambrosino took the loss for Fitchburg State, allowing five runs on seven hits with three strikeouts in 3.2 innings of work
• For the Lancers, Devin finished 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI
• Freshman Jarrett Morrill (Chelmsford, Mass.) picked up the win for Worcester State, giving up one run on seven hits with five K's over six innings of work
• With his three hits today, Eramo surpassed the 100 hit milestone and now has 101 career hits

Game Two

Fitchburg State grabbed an early 2-0 advantage in the top of the first when Morehouse reached on a fielder's choice, moved to third on a single by Eramo before Morehouse stole home on a double steal. Following a walk by graduate student Richard Sharp (Townsend, Mass.) and a hit by pitch to load the bases, senior Zachary Morris (Salem, N.H.) then ripped an RBI single left that plated Eramo.

Worcester State cut the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the second with junior Chris Wright (Jefferson, Mass.) singling to center and classmate Zach Landry (Mashpee, Mass.) walking, while senior Thomas DiBattista (Hudson, Mass.) notched an RBI single to bring in Wright.

The Falcons extended their lead (4-2), plating single runs in the third and fourth frames as Morris brought in Eramo with a sacrifice fly, while Eramo added an RBI single that scored junior Jaime Velez (Lowell, Mass.).

The Green and Gold would upped its margin in the top half of the fifth when Sharp was hit by a pitch, stole second, moved to third on a Brendan Ferrell (Plymouth, Mass.) single and stole home before newcomer Liam Goldstein (Charlestown, R.I.) singled to right center to plate Ferrell to make the score 6-2.

The Lancers trimmed the lead to 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth as Iamarone walked, moved to second on a ground and crossed the plate on a wild pitch. Fitchburg State added an insurance run in the top of the seventh with Sharp singling to second base, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an RBI double by Ferrell for the 7-4 lead as the Falcons secured the split.

By The Numbers

• 96th meeting between the two squads on the diamond with the Falcons 36-60 against the Lancers
• Morris led the way for Fitchburg State, hitting 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI
• Freshman Jovanni Merced (Springfield, Mass.) earned his first collegiate win for the Falcons, giving up three runs (2 earned) on three hits with two strikeouts in 4.2 innings of relief
• Classmate Robert Clarke (Plymouth, Mass.) notched his first collegiate save for the Green and Gold
• For the Lancers, Landry went 1-for-3 with an RBI
• Senior Justin Pena (Mansfield, Mass.) suffered the setback for the Lancers, allowing three runs on two hits and three K's over three innings pitched

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Friday when they host the Trailblazers of MCLA for a MASCAC matchup, starting at 3:00 PM.