Falcons Rally Past Rams In MASCAC Clash

Eramo and Pare set single season records for Green and Gold

Framingham, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University Baseball team rallied to defeat the Rams of Framingham State, 11-10 in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this afternoon from Bowditch Field.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 11, Framingham State 10

Records: Fitchburg State (18-17, 9-10 MASCAC) I Framingham State (23-13, 13-6 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the top of the first as junior Maxwell Kelly (E. Bridgewater, Mass.) walked, moved to second on throwing miscue before sophomore Nolan Hills (Danvers, Mass.) ripped a two-run single to center, scoring Kelly and classmate Matthew Smith (Flanders, N.J.) for the 2-0 edge.

The Falcons doubled the lead in the following frame when junior Matthew Kelly (E. Bridgewater, Mass.) and freshman Adam Koza (Windham, N.H.) singled to open the stanza, moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt, while Max Kelly drove in Mat Kelly with a groundout and Smith connected on an RBI single, scoring Koza to make the score 4-0.

Framingham State trimmed the deficit to 4-1 in the bottom of the third with senior Matthew Shaver (Milford, Mass.) reaching on a hit by pitch, stole second and crossed the plate on an RBI double to left center from sophomore Steven Burbank (Canton, Mass.).

The Green and Gold pushed the lead to 5-1 in the top of the fourth as Smith singled to center field and scored on an RBI double from senior Vincent Eramo (Sterling, Mass.) The Rams answered in the bottom half of the fourth with senior Robert Johnston (Watertown, Conn.) drawing a walk, while junior Cam Gilroy (Salisbury, Mass.) connected on a two-run blast to center field to reduce the lead to 5-3.

Fitchburg State added to the lead in the top of the fifth when sophomore Jacob Hurrell (Haverhill, Mass.) singled, senior Zachary Malek (Schenectady, N.Y.) walked and Mx Kelly singled to load the bases before Koza and sophomore Joseph DiCrosta (Wallingford, Conn.) notched RBI walks to make the score 7-3.

Framingham State knotted the score at 7-7 in the bottom of the fifth as Johnston registered a two-run double to left center, while Gilroy and sophomore Lucas Basile (Upton, Mass.) added RBI singles.

The Falcons regained the lead in the top of the sixth with Hurrell drawing a leadoff walk advancing to second and third on a stolen base and throwing miscue and crossing the plate on a sacrifice fly by Malek for the 8-7 margin.

The Rams rallied to take a 10-8 advantage in the bottom of the eighth with freshman Shane Costello (Wilmington, Mass.) registering an RBI groundout to plate Gilroy before Burbank aced a two-run double, scoring Shaver and newcomer Joe Cicchetti (North Easton, Mass.).

The Green and Gold answered back in their final at bat as sophomore Michael Cooper (Fitchburg, Mass.) and Kelly singled before Eramo proceeded to launch a three-run home run to left field to propel the Falcons to an 11-10 victory.

By The Numbers

• Eramo led the way for the Falcons, going 2-for-6 with a home run, double, one run scored and four RBI
• Hills finished 1-of-4 with two RBI for the Green and Gold
• Graduate student Lowell Pare (Leominster, Mass.) picked up the win for Fitchburg State, allowing one unearned run on two hits and one strikeout in two innings of relief
• For the Rams, Gilroy hit 2-of-5 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBI
• Sophomore Vincent LoGuidice (Billerica, Mass.) gave up four runs (3 earned) on four hits and two K's over three innings pitched in a no decision
• 93rd meeting between the Falcons and the Rams on the diamond with Fitchburg State 44-49 all-time when taking on Framingham State
• Lowell Pare set the Falcons single season program record for appearances at 20
• Vincent Eramo set the Falcons single season home run record with his ninth homerun of the season

Up Next

Falcons return to action tomorrow when they hosts the Rams of Framingham State for a MASCAC double header, starting at 12:00PM.