Baseball Rallies Past Cougars

Hills and Kelly drive in three each for Green and Gold

Davenport, FL: The Fitchburg State baseball team rallied to defeat the Cougars of Minnesota-Morris, 8-6 this evening in non-conference action on day two of the RussMatt Invitational at the Northeast Regional Park, field #1.

THE BASICS:

- Date: 3/9/24

- Score: Fitchburg State 8, Minnesota-Morris 6

- Records: Fitchburg State (3-3, 0-0 MASCAC), Minnesota-Morris (2-3, 0-0 UMAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game One

-  Minnesota-Morris opened the scoring in the bottom of the second when freshman Landen Meyerdirk (Fairmont, MN) tripled to left center and scored on an RBI single to center from junior James Nelson (Puyallup, WA) for the 1-0 margin. The Cougars doubled their advantage (2-0) in the following frame as junior David Steffen (Bloomington, MN) doubled down the left line, moved to third on a wild pitch and crossed the plate on an RBI fielders' choice from classmate Ben Meuser (Burnsville, MN).

- Fitchburg State knotted the score at 2-2 in the top of the fourth with senior Matthew Kelly (E. Bridgewater, MA) drawing a lead-off walk, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and following a walk and stolen base from junior Jacob Hurrell (Haverhill, MA), junior Nolan Hills (Danvers, MA) laced a two-run double down the left field line, scoring Kelly and Hurrell. The Falcons took the lead in the top half of the fifth with junior Jake Santulli (Wolcott, CT) and Kelly connecting on back-to-back singles, while senior Maxwell Kelly (E. Bridgewater, MA) ripping a run scoring double to left center that scored Santulli for the 3-2 edge.

- Minnesota-Morris rallied to retie the contest (3-3) in the bottom of the eighth with junior Ethan Schmitz (St. Louis Park, MN) drawing a walk, stole second and came around to score on an RBI double by Meyerdirk. The Green and Gold secured the victory in the top of the ninth, scoring five runs as Mx Kelly singled to center to bring in junior Cole DuHaime (Warminster, PA) and senior Carter Pike (Weare, NH), while sophomore Joseph Abt (Newbury, MA) and Hills added RBI singles in the stanza, resulting in the 8-6 final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  This evening's contest marked the first ever meeting between Fitchburg State and Minnesota-Morris on the baseball diamond with the Falcons 1-0 all-time when taking on the Cougars

-  Hills paced the Falcons, going 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI

-  Max Kelly added two hits, including a double, one run scored and three RBI for the Green and Gold

-  Sophomore Sy Sullivan (Tigard, OR) picked up the win for Fitchburg State, allowing four runs (1 earned) on one hit with four strikeouts over 3.1 innings pitched

-  For the Cougars, Meyerkirk finished 2-for-5 with a double, triple, one run scored and one RBI

-  Meuser chipped in with a pair of RBI

-  Junior Josh Osten (Elkhorn, NE) collected the loss for Minnesota-Morris, allowing five runs on seven hits and one strikeout over 2.2 innings of work

UP NEXT:

- Fitchburg State returns to action on Monday as they take on the Eagles of Benedictine University and the Raiders of MSOE on day three action of the 2024 RussMatt Invitational at 9:00AM and 12:30 PM.

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