Falcons Advance Over Owls In MASCAC Opening Round

Eramo sets Falcons program record with his 22nd career home run

Bridgewater, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University Baseball team rallied to defeat the Owls of Westfield State, 14-8 in opening round action of the 2023 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Post-Season Tournament from Alumni Park on the campus of Bridgewater State.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 14, Westfield State 8

Records: Fitchburg State (19-19, 9-12 MASCAC) I Westfield State (19-19, 13-8 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the top of the first as sophomore Matthew Smith (Flanders, N.J.) walked, advanced to second on a single off the bat of senior Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.) and scored on an RBI single to right center from senior Zachary Malek (Schenectady, N.Y.) for the 1-0 edge.

Westfield State quickly knotted the score at 1-1 in the bottom half of the first when sophomore Justin Neidel (Attleboro, Mass.) laced a triple to right center and scored on an RBI single to left center by classmate Nick Marshall (Reading, Mass.).

The Falcons regained the lead in the top of the fourth with sophomore Jacob Hurrell (Haverhill, Mass.) blasted a solo shot over the left field fence for his sixth home run of the season to make the score 2-1.

The Owls responded in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four runs with freshman Alex Martin (Shrewsbury, Mass.), junior Nolan Florence (Chicopee, Mass.) and Neidel registering RBI base hits for the 5-2 advantage.

The Green and Gold answered back in the top of the fifth as Eramo singled through the left side to bring home junior Devin Lorae (Canton, Ga.) before Malek followed with an RBI double down the left field line that plated Smith. Junior Matthew Kelly (E. Bridgewater, Mass.) would then rip a two-run single down the right field line, scoring Malek and Hurrell for the 8-5 lead.

Fitchburg State upped the lead to 11-5 in the top of the sixth when Fitchburg State loaded the bases on Smith hit by pitch, a single from Eramo and a Hurrell walk before sophomore Nolan Hills (Danvers, Mass.) was hit by a pitch to bring in Smith, while Kelly laced a two run single through the left side.

The Falcons pushed the advantage to 14-7 in the following frame as Eramo crushed a solo shot to left center and Hurrell connected on an RBI triple to left center. With the home run, Eramo became the Falcons all-time career leader with his 22nd career home run, surpassing the previous record of 21, held by form Falcon Gary Blanchette (88).

Westfield State cut the deficit to 14-8 in the bottom of the eighth on a solo home run to left center from graduate student Ethan Day (Meriden, Conn.), but Fitchburg State relief pitcher Lowell Pare (Leominster, Mass.) closed the door in the bottom ninth, resulting in the 14-8 final.

By The Numbers

• Eramo led the way for the Falcons, going 4-for-6 with a home run, three runs scored and two RBI
• Hurrell went 3-for-5 with a triple, home run, two runs scored and three RBI for the Green and Gold
• Pare earned the win for Fitchburg State, allowing three runs on eight hits with six K's in five innings of relief
• For the Owls, Neidel hit 4-for-6 with three triples, two runs scored and one RBI
• Junior Ryan Lapierre (Pittsfield, Mass.) took the loss for Westfield State, giving up eight runs on 12 hits with four strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work
• 97th meeting between the Falcons and the Owls on the diamond with Fitchburg State 23-74 all-time when taking on Westfield State
• With the home run, Vinny Eramo set the Fitchburg State program record for home runs in career with his 22nd career home run
• With the victory, LT Pare set the Falcons single season record for wins with his ninth victory on the season

Up Next

Falcons return to action later this afternoon as they take on the second seeded Bears of Bridgewater State in quarterfinal round action of the 2023 MASCAC Baseball Post-Season tournament with a 2:30 PM start.