Baseball Drops Pair Of Non-Conference Games To Polar Bears

Kelly blasts first home run of the season for Green and Gold

Davenport, FL: The Fitchburg State baseball team a dropped a pair of non-conference contests today to the Polar Bears of Bowdoin College in day four action of the 2024 RussMatt Invitational as the Falcons dropped a 6-5 decision in the opener before falling 15-4 in the night cap.

THE BASICS:

- Date: 3/13/24

- Score: Fitchburg State 5, Bowdoin 6 (GM1)

- Score: Fitchburg State 4, Bowdoin 15 (GM2)

- Records: Fitchburg State (4-6, 0-0 MASCAC), Bowdoin (4-3, 0-0 NESCAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game One

-  Bowdoin opened the scoring in the bottom of the first frame as senior Ben McKenzie (Hopkinton, MA) walked, stole second and scored on a single to center field from sophomore Liam Foley (Wrentham, MA) before sophomore Lukas Tsai (Fair Lawn, NJ) was hit by a pitch with the bases load to score Foley for the 2-0 edge. The Polar Bears pushed the lead to 3-0 in the following inning with freshman Cal Thompson (Hudson, MA) reaching on a bunt single, stole second and crossed the plate on an RBI single to center off the bat of Foley.

- Fitchburg State answered in the top of the third inning when sophomore Adam Koza (Windham, NH) doubled to left center, moved to third on single to center by junior Jake Santulli (Wolcott, CT) and scored on an RBI fielders' choice from senior Matthew Kelly (E. Bridgewater, MA) to make the score 3-1. The Falcons cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of the fifth as senior Carter Pike (Weare, NH) singled up the middle, advanced to second and third on a wild pitch and a stolen base, while Kelly laced a run scoring single through the right side. Bowdoin upped the lead (6-2) in the bottom of the fifth with senior Luke Chessie (Saco, ME) collecting a two-run to right field, while Tsai added a sacrifice fly. The Green and Gold battled back in the top of the seventh when junior Liam Goldstein (Charlestown, RI) walked, advanced to third on fielding miscue before Kelly blasted a three-run homer to right field, but Bowdoin would hold on for the 6-5, game one victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  Kelly led the way for the Falcons, going 2-for-4 with a home run, one run scored and five RBI

-  Koza added one hit, including a double and one run scored

-  Junior Joseph Hartnett (North Attleboro, MA) took the loss for Fitchburg State, allowing five runs on five hits with five K's and five walks over 4.1 innings pitched

-  For the Polar Bears, Foley finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI

-  Cheesie chipped in with a double and two RBI

-  Freshman Rudy Gately (Wrentham, MA) earned the win for Bowdoin, giving up two runs on three this and striking out four in 4.2 innings of work

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game Two

-  Bowdoin grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the top of the first on RBI singles from junior Kevin Murray (Stony Point, NY) and classmate Chris Dirks (Danvers, MA). Fitchburg State cut the lead to 2-1 in their half of the first as Koza drove in Kelly with a double to center field to make the score 2-1.

- The Polar Bears pushed the lead to 6-1 in the top of the third when senior Aidan Cary (Braintree, MA) connected on a two run double before freshman Henry Bibeau (Portland, ME) added an RBI triple to right field. Trailing 10-1 in the bottom of the fourth, the Falcons answered with sophomore Matthew Riordan (Pepperell, MA) plated junior Nolan Hills (Danvers, MA) with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 10-2.

- Bowdoin upped the lead in the top of the fifth when junior Grant Collins (Portland, CT) notched an RBI base knock through the right side, while sophomore Chris Afiero (Belmont, MA) followed with a two-run single to center for the 15-2 margin. The Green and Gold would plate a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh with freshman Liam Currier (Charlestown, RI) and junior Ethan Blanchette (San Antonio, TX) drawing bases-loaded walks, resulting in the 15-4, game two final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  This afternoon's contest marked the seventh meeting between Fitchburg State and Bowdoin with the Falcons 3-4 all-time when taking on the Polar Bears

-  Kelly paced the Falcons, going 2-of-3 with a one run scored

-  Koza added a double and an RBI for the Green and Gold

-  Freshman Sean Tessman (Canton, CT) suffered the setback for Fitchburg State, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out two over two innings pitched

-  For the Polar Bears, Dirks batted 4-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI

-  Bibeau chipped in with a pair of hits, three runs scored and two RBI

-  Freshman Franco Ruocco (Pomano Beach, Fla.) picked up the win for Bowdoin, yielding two runs on five hits with seven K's over six innings pitched

UP NEXT:

- Fitchburg State returns to action tomorrow as they take on the Rams of Suffolk University in day five action of the 2024 RussMatt Invitational, starting at 6:45 PM.

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