Falcons Forge Past Lancers in Extras

Worcester, Mass. – A sacrifice fly from Matthew Kelly in the top of the tenth inning completed the comeback as the Fitchburg State baseball team defeated the Lancers of Worcester State 11-9 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action on Tuesday afternoon at the Kevin D Lyons Stadium.

The Basics
Score: Fitchburg State 11, Worcester State 9 – 10 Innings
Records: Fitchburg State (13-12, 4-6 MASCAC) | Worcester State (11-15, 6-4 MASCAC)

How It Happened

The Falcons took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Matthew Kelly (E. Bridgewater, Mass.) reached on an error with two out and scored on the double off the bat of Zachary Malek (Schenectady, NY). Worcester State answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame.

In the third inning, Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 3-2 with an RBI single from Nolan Hills (Danvers, Mass.). However, the Lancers upped the lead to 7-2 with four runs in the fourth. Junior Tom Halliwell (Lynn, Mass) tripled in a run and scored on a double from Alex Sorenti-Burns (Sagamore Beach, Mass.).

The Green and Gold battled back in the seventh inning. Maxwell Kelly (E. Bridgewater, Mass.) opened the inning with a hit-by-pitch. Michael Cooper (Fitchburg, Mass.) followed with a walk and Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.) took one for the team to load the bases for Adam Koza (Windham, NH). After a pitching change from the Lancers, Koza belted the first pitch he saw over the centerfield fence for the Grand Slam.

A sacrifice fly from Cooper would tie the game at 8-8 after eight innings. Worcester State regained the lead (9-8) in the bottom of the frame. In the top of the ninth Fitchburg State plated 2 runs to take a 10-9 advantage. Matthew Kelly and Malek delivered RBI hits for the visitors.

The hosts knotted the game (10-10) with an RBI single from Anthony Lamarone (Providence, RI) before setting the stage for Kelly's heroics in the tenth.

Lowell Pare (Leominster, Mass.) pitched a clean tenth inning to earn the victory for the Falcons.

Inside the Numbers

• Malek was 3-for-6- with 3 doubles, a run, and 2 RBIs
• Koza was 2-for-5 with a grand slam home run, a run, and 4 RBIs
• Pare pitched three innings allowing two runs (1 earned) with 4 hits and 4 strikeouts
• Danny DiMassimo suffered the setback for the Lancers allowing 2 runs on 2 hits
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Up Next

The Falcons host the Bears of Bridgewater State on Friday afternoon. The first pitch is slated for 3:00 PM.