Eramo Sets RBI Record as Falcons Split with Trailblazers

Eramo Sets RBI Record as Falcons Split with Trailblazers

North Adams, Mass. – The Fitchburg State baseball team split an afternoon doubleheader with the Trailblazers of MCLA in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action on Friday afternoon. MCLA took game one 17-1 but the Falcons bounced back in game two to down the Trailblazers 15-4 to earn a split.

The Basics
Game 1 Score: Fitchburg State 1, MCLA 17
Game 2 Score: Fitchburg State 15, MCLA 4
Records: Fitchburg State (17-16, 8-10 MASCAC) | MCLA (9-25, 3-15 MASCAC)

How It Happened – Game 1

The Trailblazers scored eight runs in the first two innings and it was all they would need as they cruised to a 17-1 victory.

In the bottom of the second inning, Michael Wormuth (Wynantskill, NY) started the scoring with an RBI double to left field. Senior Austin Rachiele (Pittsfield, Mass.) belted a 3-run home run and two batters later Randy Adams (Fullerton, CA) made it an 8-0 ballgame.

MCLA would add four runs in both the third and fourth inning to extend the lead. The Falcons avoided the shutout in the top of the seventh. Freshman Maxwell Riordan (Pepperell, Mass.) singled to center to start the inning. Greg Reed (Saugus, Mass.) doubled to put runners on second and third. Riordan scored on Cole DuHaime's (Warminster, NH) fielder's choice.

Inside the Numbers – Game 1

• Riordan, Reed, and Nolan Hills (Danvers, Mass.) had the hits for the Falcons
• Adam Wholley (Londonderry, NH) took the loss for the Green and Gold allowing 8 runs on 5 hits with three walks and a strikeout
• MCLA starting pitcher Bryan Rosario (W, 4-6) also had his career-best performance pitching his first complete game allowing only one run on three hits, and striking out four batters to earn the win

How It Happened – Game 2

Senior Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.) became the Falcons All-Time Leader in RBIs in the first inning when he plated Maxwell Kelly (E. Bridgewater, Mass.) with a single to center field. Hills singled two batters later to score Eramo and give the Falcons the early 2-0 lead. It was Eramo's 114^th RBI breaking the record set by Kris Breen in 2009.

MCLA responded in the bottom of the frame with three runs to take the lead. However, Fitchburg State answered in the top of the second. After Maxwell Kelly and Matthew Smith (Flanders, NJ) had RBI hits Eramo laced a 2-run home run to up the visitors' lead to 6-3.

The Falcons would cruise from there adding three runs in the third to lead 9-4. In the top of the sixth Eramo continued with his hot bat drilling a 2-RBI single to left field with the bases loaded and scored two batters later in Jacob Hurrell's (Haverhill, Mass.) double to left field to extend the advantage to 13-4.

Inside the Numbers

• Eramo finished game two going 5-for-6 with six RBI, 3 runs scored, and a home run
• Maxwell Kelly (3-for-5, 2 RBI), Matthew Smith (2-for-5, 2 RBI), Jacob Hurrell (1-for-2, 2 RBI), Nolan Hills (2-for-5, 2 RBI) and Joseph DiCrosta (3-for-5) joined Eramo leading the Falcon offensive charge
• Lowell Pare (Leominster, Mass.) (W, 7-2) allowed 4 runs (one earned) scattering nine hits, striking out six batters in 6 innings pitched to claim the win for the Falcons
• MCLA's Matthew Belfance (L, 0-2) took the loss for the Trailblazers.

Up Next

Fitchburg State will next host Anna Maria College at 2:30 pm on Monday afternoon.