Falcons Split Twinbill with Salem State

Salem, Mass. – The Fitchburg State baseball team split a doubleheader with the Vikings of Salem State in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action on Friday afternoon. The Vikings won game one 17-10, while the Falcons rebounded and earned a hard-fought victory (5-4) in the nightcap.

The Basics

Game One: Score: Fitchburg State 10, Salem State 17
Game Two: Score: Fitchburg State 5, Salem State 4

Records: Fitchburg State (10-10, 2-4 MASCAC) | Salem State (6-14, 3-3 MASCAC)

How It Happened – Game 1

Fitchburg State put five runs on the board to open the game. Sophomore Liam Goldstein (Charlestown, RI) walked with one out and scored on a triple from Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.). Adam Koza (Windham, NH) platted Eramo with a sacrifice fly. Two batters later sophomore Nolan Hills (Danvers, Mass.) doubled in Jacob Hurrell (Haverhill, Mass.) who had doubled to center field.  Zachary Malek (Schenectady, NY) and Matthew Kelly (E. Bridgewater, Mass.) finished the scoring with RBI hits.

In the bottom of the first, the Vikings took a 6-5 lead off RBI singles from Edward Field (Gloucester, Mass.) and TJ Beninati (Suffren, NY). Owen Duggan (Billerica, Mass.) drew a bases-loaded walk for the go-ahead run.

Knotted at 6-6, Nolan Hills homered in the third inning as the Falcons regained the lead 8-6. Zachary Malek extended the Green and Gold lead (9-7) with an RBI double in the sixth inning.

The Vikings exploded for ten runs in the bottom of the sixth, including back-to-back doubles from James Dolan (Rockland, Mass) and Brahiam Ortega (Lawrence, Mass.) to take game one.

Inside the Numbers  - Game 1

• Lowell Pare (Leominster, Mass.) took the loss for the Falcons, allowing 8 runs (5 earned), a walk, and a strikeout in an inning of relief
• Hill had three hits for the Falcons, while Eramo, Malek, and Matt Kelley each had a pair

How It Happened – Game 2

Trailing 1-0 the Falcons forged ahead 2-1 in the top of the fourth. Hills continued his hot bat and delivered an RBI double to right center to score Hurrell. Hills scored on an infield hit from Matthew Kelley.

Salem State scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to move ahead 4-2. However, the Falcons' bats were strong in the seventh inning. With the bases full of Falcons Hills laced a single to left field to tie the game at 4-4. Malek followed with a ground-rule double for the game-winning hit.

Inside the Numbers - Game 2

• Both Hills and Malek were 2-for-4 for the Falcons with a combined 2 doubles, four RBI, and a stolen base
• Sy Sullivan (Tigard, Ore.) pitched four strong innings for the Falcons allowing 4 earned runs with 2 Ks and a walk
• Pare earned the win with two scoreless innings and a strikeout for the Green and Gold

Up Next

The Falcons will host Lesley University on Tuesday afternoon for a single game starting at 3:00 PM.