Fitchburg State Notches A Pair Of 14-0 Victories Over MMA

McGrail collects seven hits to lead Falcon in MASCAC sweep

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. (April 16, 2012) – The Fitchburg State softball team collected a MASCAC sweep over Mass-Maritime Academy this afternoon, downing the Buccaneers 14-0 in both contests behind a seven hit attack from junior Alycia McGrail (N. Brookfield, Mass./N. Brookfield).

The Falcons rapped out 31 hits and used a nine-run third inning rally in the opener to go with a ten-run second inning outburst in the nightcap to post their sweep. McGrail collected the big hit in the first game of the day, a grand slam homerun, while sophomore Marissa Binnall (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) also went deep with three run homer in the opener.

Sophomore Ashley Forgues (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) added four hits on the day for Fitchburg State, including a three-run homer in the nightcap, while sophomore Shannon Fitzgerald (Blackstone, Mass./Blackstone Valley) also chipped in with four hits. Junior Lauren Weitz (Billerica, Mass./Billerica), sophomore Emily Pomer (Groveland, Mass./Whittier Regional) and freshman Amanda Whitelaw (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central) all chipped in with three hits apiece.

Senior Allison Cousins (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) tossed a four-hit shutout and fanned five to pick up her sixth win in the opener for Fitchburg State, while freshman Brittany Whiting (Sharon, Mass./Sharon) went the distance with a three-hit shutout (3 K's) in the nightcap.

Senior Holly McLaughlin (Belmont, Mass.) connected for a pair of doubles in the opening game setback for the host Buccaneers while junior Meghan Thibeault (Scituate, Mass.) registered a pair of hits in the nightcap.  Sophomore Jennifer March (Pawtucket, R.I.) fanned a pair inside the circle for the Buccaneers in the nightcap.

Fitchburg State (11-19, 4-4 MASCAC) will be in action again on Wednesday as it travels to New England College at 3 p.m. Mass-Maritime (2-15, 0-6 MASCAC) will visit Salem State University on Wednesday at 5 p.m.