Falcons Swept By Nittany Lions At RussMatt Invitational

Riordan notches first collegiate hit for Green and Gold

Lake Myrtle, Fla. – The Fitchburg State baseball team dropped a pair of non-conference contests to the Nittany Lions of Penn State Abington by the scores of 4-3 and 8-4 on day five action of the 2023 RussMatt Invitational this afternoon.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 3, Penn St. Abington 4 (GM1)

Score: Fitchburg State 4, Penn St. Abington 8 (GM2)

Records: Fitchburg State (4-3, 0-0 MASCAC) I Penn St. Abington (3-4, 0-0 UE)

How It Happened

Game One

Penn State Abington opened the scoring in the top of the third when junior Eric Rollins (Collingswood, N.J.) reached on a fielding miscue, allowing senior Josh Baar (Burlington City, N.J.) to score for the 1-0 edge.

The Nittany Lions doubled the lead (2-0) in the top of the fourth as senior Louis Rossner (Delran, N.J.) drew a base loaded walk. Fitchburg State knotted the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth with senior Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.) and freshman Adam Koza (Windham, N.H.) lacing b RBI singles.

Penn State regained the lead in the top half of the seventh when sophomore Eric Stradling (Yardley, Penn.) delivered a two-run to left center for the 4-2 advantage. The Green and Gold answered back in their half of the seventh as junior Matthew Kelly (East Bridgewater, Mass.) notched a sacrifice fly to center field, but couldn't push across the tying run as the Nittany Lions held on for the 4-3, game one victory.

By The Numbers

• Kelly finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored for the Falcons
• Sophomore Justin Maheu (Windham, N.H) took the loss for Fitchburg State, allowing two runs on five hits with one strikeout in three innings of work
• For the Nittany Lions, Stradling went 1-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored
• Sophomore Greg Wiley (Huntingdon Valley, Penn.) earned the win, giving up two runs on four hits and seven strikeouts over six innings pitched

Game Two

Penn State raced out a 3-0 edge in the third inning as senior Zach Morales (Barrington, N.J.) collected an RBI single and junior Tim Petrucelli (Delran, N.J.) blasted a two-run home run. Fitchburg State trimmed the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the fifth when sophomore Liam Goldstein (Charlestown, R.I.) ripped a two-run double down the left field line to score classmate Jacob Hurrell (Haverhill, Mass.) and freshman Maxwell Riordan (Pepperell, Mass.) to make the score 4-2.

The Nittany Lions pushed the lead to 8-2 in the bottom of the sixth with junior Justin Fogel (Yardey, Penn.) connecting on an RBI single and a two-run inside the park home run from Petrucelli. The Falcons answered back in the top of the seventh when Kelly singled home sophomore Michael Cooper (Fitchburg, Mass.) and classmate Matthew Smith (Flanders, N.J.) plating Hurrell with an RBI fielders choice, resulting in the 8-4 final

By The Numbers

• Goldstein led the way for the Falcons, hitting 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI
• Sophomore Matthew Wilson (Bellingham, Mass.) gave up four runs on six hits and five K's over three innings of relief in a no decision for Fitchburg State
• For the Nittany Lions, Petrucelli hit 2-of-3 with two homeruns, two runs scored and four RBI
• Sophomore Alex Margot (Collingswood, N.J.) picked up the win for Penn State, allowing two runs on two hits with seven strikeouts in six innings of work
• First ever meeting between Fitchburg State and Penn St. Abington on the baseball diamond with the Falcons 0-2 all-time when taking on the Nittany Lions

Up Next

Falcons return to action tomorrow as they take on the Mavericks of Medaille College on day five action of the 2023 RussMatt Invitational, starting at 9:30AM.