Falcons Sweep Bulldogs in Doubleheader Action

Franklin, Mass.  – The Fitchburg State baseball team swept a doubleheader (8-7, 10 innings, 15-4) with the Bulldogs of Dean College on Saturday afternoon in non-conference action.

The Basics

Game 1: Fitchburg St. 8, Dean 7, 10 innings
Game 2: Fitchburg St.15, Dean 4
Records: Fitchburg State (8-4), Dean (1-8)

How It Happened – Game 1

The Falcons notched an unearned run in the top of the first and added another run with a double steal in the second inning. The Green and Gold doubled the lead (4-0) with an RBI single up the middle from junior Devin Lorae (Canton, Ga.) and a triple from sophomore Liam Goldstein (Charlestown, RI) which scored Lorae.

Dean battled back in the bottom of the fifth. With two out and the bases loaded, senior Owen Liscio (Norwalk, Conn.) delivered the big hit with a single down the left field line scoring a pair of Bulldogs. Classmate Andrew Sullivan (Agawam, Mass.) followed with an RBI single to left field to give Dean a 5-4 lead.

In the top of the sixth and with a runner on second base, junior Matthew Kelly (East Bridgewater, Mass.) laced a single to center field to tie the game (5-5). Freshman Adam Koza (Windham, NH) gave the Falcons the lead (6-5) by drawing a bases-loaded walk.

Dean evened the score in the bottom of the sixth inning with an RBI from sophomore James Galati (Eastchester, NY).

The teams reeled off three scoreless innings until the top of the tenth when Fitchburg State capitalized on a defensive error by Dean, scoring a pair of unearned runs.

Inside the Numbers – Game 1

• Lowell Pare (Leominster, Mass.) picked up the win for the Falcons, allowing three earned runs on 7 hits with 7 Ks over 5.1 innings
• Koza was 2-for-5 with a double, triple, walk, run, and an RBI
• Goldstein was 1-for-4 with a triple, sacrifice, and an RBI
• Lorae was 3-for-6 with an RBI and 2 runs scored
• Matthew Kelly and Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.) each had 2 stolen bases

How It Happened – Game 2

The Falcons cruised to the second-game victory. Ahead 3-0 after one, the visitors put up a nine spot in the third inning.

Sophomore Michael Cooper (Fitchburg, Mass.) singled to left field scoring Maxwell Kelly (East Bridgewater, Mass.) who had walked to open the inning. With the bases juiced with Falcons Maxwell Riordan (Pepperell, Mass.) and Joseph DiCrosta (Wallingford, Conn.) each produced RBI walks. Batting around in the inning Max Kelly took one for the team with a hit-by-pitch for an RBI, Eramo followed with a sacrifice fly and Cooper capped the frame with an RBI single through the right side.

The Falcons extended the lead to 15-0 before the Bulldogs got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth. Senior Brian Dovidio (Ramsey, NJ) belted a 2-run RBI to center field and Jacob Paschetto (East Longmeadow, Mass.) added an RBI single to cut the deficit to 15-3.

Inside the Numbers – Game 2

• • Freshman Adam Wholley (Londonderry, NH) picked up his first collegiate win, pitching four complete innings allowing 3 earned runs on 4 hits and 4 Ks
  • The Falcons belted out 10 hits, Cooper, Koza, and Jacob Hurrell (Haverhill, Mass.) had multi-hit games
  • Hurrell was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI
  • DiCrosta was 1-for-3 with 3 RBI, 2 Runs, and a triple

Up Next
The Falcons return to action on Tuesday when they face Emerson at NEBC, first pitch is slated for 3:00 PM.