Falcons Split With Rams in MASCAC Twin Bill On Senior Day

Morehouse ties program single season doubles record

Fitchburg, Mass. - The Fitchburg State University baseball team split a double header with the Rams of Framingham State this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from Riccards Field on senior day as the Falcons took the opener 8-7 before the Rams collected an 8-1, game two triumph.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 8, Framingham State 7 (GM1)
Score: Fitchburg State 1, Framingham State 8 (GM2)
Records: Fitchburg State (10-30 6-15 MASCAC) I Framingham State (11-26, 6-15 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Game One

Fitchburg State took a 1-0 edge in the bottom of the first as junior Connor Morehouse (Wetherby Lake, Mo.) doubled to right center and scored on an RBI single to left center. Framingham State knotted the score (1-1) in the top of the second when sophomore Cam Gilroy (Salisbury, Mass.) brought in junior Chris Iannetta (Watertown, Mass.) after being hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

The Falcons regained the lead in their half of the second with newcomer Silas Thomas (Sequim, Wash.) plating senior Zachary Morris (Salem, N.H.) with a sacrifice fly to center for the 2-1 margin. The Rams would take the lead back in the top of the third when freshman Steven Burbank (Canton, Mass.) launching a grand slam over the left field fence to give the visitors a 5-2 advantage.

The Green and Gold answered back in the bottom of the third frame as Morris registered a sacrifice fly to center field to bring home senior Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.) to trim the deficit to 5-3. Fitchburg State battled back to take an 8-5 lead in the bottom of the sixth, scoring five runs in the stanza with Thomas connecting on a two-run triple, while, Morehouse and junior Zachary Malek (Schenectady, N.Y.) collected RBI's as well.

Framingham State would cut the deficit to 8-7 in the top of the seventh with junior Robert Johnston (Watertown, Mass.) and sophomore Ryan Boyle (Fairhaven, Mass.) registering RBI's, but Falcon hurler Jovanni Merced (Springfield, Mass.) induced a game ending fly out, resulting in the 8-7 final.

By The Numbers

• Thomas paced the Falcons offense, going 1-for-3 with a triple, one run scored and three RBI
• Merced earned the win for Fitchburg State, allowing two runs (one earned) on two hits with three K's in three innings of relief
• For the Rams, Burbank finished 3-for-3 with a grand slam, two runs scored and four RBI
• Senior Anthony Panza (Watertown, Mass.) gave up four runs (3 earned) on eight hits with four strikeouts in five innings pitched for Framingham State in a no decision

Game Two

Fitchburg State grabbed an early 1-0 margin in the bottom of the second when Malek connected on his fourth home run of the season, launching a solo shot over the left field fence. Framingham State tied the contest (1-1) in the top of the third inning with Johnston notching an RBI ground out to second base that scored Burbank.

The score remained knotted at 1-1 entering the sixth before the Rams broke the contest open, scoring six runs as Johnston and sophomore Ethan Moniz (Dartmouth, Mass.) plated a pair of runs each, while Iannetta and senior Kennedy Wilson (Natick, Mass.) added runs scoring singles.

The visitors secured the split in the top of the seventh when Iannetta laced an RBI single through the right side to bring in freshman Lucas Basile (Upton, Mass.), resulting in the 8-1, game two final.

By The Numbers

• 92nd meeting between the two squads on the baseball diamond with the Falcons 43-49 against the Rams
• Malek led the way for Fitchburg State, hitting 1-of-2 with a home run, one run scored and one RBI
• Senior Matthew Ambrosino (Bradenton, Fla.) took the loss for the Falcons, yielding seven runs (6 earned) on seven hits with seven punchouts over 5.2 innings pitched
• For Framingham State, Johnston went 2-for-4 with one run scored and two RBI
• Freshman Vinny LoGuidice (Billerica, Mass.) collected the win for the Rams, giving up one run on three hits with three K's in the complete game effort
• Seniors Zachary Morris, Brendan Ferrell, Jackson Vail, Vincent Eramo, Matthew Ambrosino, Adam Kirsch and Richard Sharp as well as Tim Foley were honored for their contributions to the program prior to the contest

Up Next

Falcons conclude their 2022 season with an overall record of 10-30 this afternoon. Rams secured the sixth seed in the upcoming 2022 MASCAC Baseball Post-Season Tournament and await it's opponent.