Fitchburg State Closes Season With Split Vs. Westfield State

Falcons notch 4-3 win in game one; fall 16-4 in nightcap

FITCHBURG, Mass. (April 28, 2012) – The Fitchburg State softball team wrapped up its 2012 season this afternoon, splitting with Westfield State University in a MASCAC doubleheader. The Falcons took game one 4-3 before falling 16-4 in game two.

Fitchburg State 4, Westfield State 3 (Game 1)

Fitchburg State received an outstanding performance from senior pitcher Allison Cousins (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) in game on, as the senior southpaw limited the Owls to just three earned runs in the Falcons 4-3 victory. Cousins kept Westfield State off balance all contest, scattering 14 hits with one strikeout en route to her eighth victory of the year.  

Westfield State jumped out an early 2-0 lead in the opening frame on an RBI double by Kerin DeGirolamo (N. Attleboro, Mass./Bishop Fenwick) and a run scoring single by Bri Eichstaedt (Southampton, Mass./Hampshire Regional) but Fitchburg State grabbed a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third, highlighted by a sacrifice fly from Victoria Brinkley (Durham, Conn./Guilford) and an RBI single by Shannon Fitzgerald (Blackstone, Mass./Blackstone Regional).

The Falcons upped their lead to 4-2 in the fourth inning on an RBI triple by junior Alycia McGrail (N. Brookfield, Mass./N. Brookfield) but Westfield State cut the deficit to one run (4-3) in the fifth as freshman Vicki Hill (W. Springfield, Mass./W. Springfield) drove home DeGirolamo with sacrifice fly.

That's as close as the Owls could get however as Cousins shut down Westfield State over the final two innings. McGrail paced the Falcons offensively, going 2-for-4 with a triple, one run scored and one RBI, while Fitzgerald finished with a pair of hits and one RBI. \

Westfield State received a strong performance from Eichstaedt who notched three hits on the afternoon, while DeGirolamo and freshman Breanne Bisceglia (Worcester, Mass./Burncoat) each collected a pair of hits. Senior Madeline Tomich (Alford, Mass./Mt. Everett) suffered the loss for the Owls, allowing four runs (two earned) on eight hits, while fanning six.

Westfield State 16, Fitchburg State 4 (Game two)

In game two, Westfield State rebounded with a 16 run, 21 hit eruption to salvage the series split.

Fitchburg State gained the first lead of the contest (2-0) early in the game as the Falcons posted single runs in both the first and second inning, but Westfield State gained the lead for good (5-2) in the third inning as DeGirolamo drove home a pair with a double and Eichstaedt followed with a two run homer.

The Falcons cut the Owl lead to 5-4 in their half of the inning on an RBI triple by Marissa Binnall (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) and an RBI ground by Brinkley but Westfield State surged ahead in the sixth inning as senior Lisa Policelli (Tewksbury, Mass./Central Catholic) singled home a pair runs. The Owls put the game away in the seventh, plating nine runs for the 16-4 victory.  

Brittany Dussault (Chicopee, Mass./Chicopee Comp) finished a perfect 5-for-5 at the dish to lead the Westfield State game two attack, while Policelli added three singles and a trio of RBI. McGrail was solid again for Fitchburg State with three base hits and one run scored, while Fitzgerald chipped in with a run scoring double.

In the circle, sophomore Kerry Alcott (Groton, Mass./Groton-Dunstable) earned the win for Westfield State, allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits,  while striking out seven. Freshman Brittany Whiting (Sharon, Mass./Sharon) took the loss for Fitchburg State, surrendering 11 runs on 14 hits (4 K's).

Fitchburg State concludes its 2012 season with an overall record of 14-24 and a 5-9 mark in the MASCAC, while Westfield State 19-18, 9-5 MASCAC awaits its berth for the upcoming MASCAC tournament.