Johnson and Wales Edges Fitchburg State, 6-5

McKinnon hits a perfect 2-for-2 with first collegiate homerun

FITCHBURG, Mass. (April 8, 2009) - Freshman Ashley McKinnon (Raynham, Mass./Bridgewater-Raynham) finished  a perfect 2-for-2 as Fitchburg State fell to Johnson and Wales University, 6-5 this afternoon at Coolidge Field.

Johnson and Wales 6, Fitchburg State 5

McKinnon led the Fitchburg State attack with her perfect performance, including her first collegiate homerun, two runs scored and three RBI, while sophomore Meghan Callahan (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford) finished 3-for-4 with a double and one run scored. Freshman Lauren Lomonaco (Southampton, N.J./Southampton) paced the Johnson and Wales offense with a two-run homerun, while senior Kirsten Giffiths (New Haven, Conn./New Haven) and sophomore Amanda Rae Sullivan (East Granby, Conn./East Granby) added two hits apiece.

Johnson and Wales jumped out to an early 6-1 lead in part by Lomonacos‘ two-run homer to left field, but Fitchburg State cut the Wildcats lead to 6-4 in the bottom of the second as McKinnon connected for a towering blast to left field to plate three.

Fitchburg State added another run in the bottom of the seventh inning off a RBI single by senior Eryne Cotter (North Easton, Mass./Oliver Ames) but the comeback was short-lived as Sullivan shut the door to preserve the Wildcats third victory of the season.

Sullivan (2-11) earned the win for Johnson and Wales, allowing five runs on nine hits in the complete game effort, while sophomore right-hander Bethany Stone (Wells, Maine/Wells) took the loss for the Falcons. Stone was touched for six runs (three earned) on nine hits, while striking out one.

Fitchburg State (3-17, 0-2 MASCAC) returns to action on Friday as it travels to MCLA for a conference double-header at 2 p.m. Johnson and Wales (3-21, 1-9 GNAC) is back in action on Friday as well, when it travels to Mount Ida College at 2 p.m.

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