Fitchburg State Collects Split Vs. Framingham State

Kerr, Ferriera, Brown and Gildea collect first collegiate homeruns for Falcons in MASCAC spilt

Framingham, Mass. – The Fitchburg State softball team was in action this afternoon registering a split with Framingham State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at the Maple Street Field, The Falcons collected a 9-8 win in the opening contest before dropping a 4-3 decision to the Rams in the game two.

Fitchburg State 9, Framingham State 8 (Game 1) 

In game one, Fitchburg State erupted for nine runs on 15 hits, including three homeruns, en-route to a 9-8 victory in the opener.

Framingham State was paced by sophomore Kylie Boyle, going 3-for-4 at the plate with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI, while freshman Bridget McGrail collected two hits, including a double, three RBI and one run scored.

The Falcons were led by sophomore Katie Gildea, who finished 3-for-4 at the dish with a homerun, two runs batted in and a pair of runs scored, while classmates Gia Ferreira and Jessalynne Brown combined for four hits, two homeruns, four RBI and three runs scored.

Framingham State opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning as Boyle plated newcomer Anna Dziok with a run scoring single to center before McGrail connected on a two run double as Boyle and sophomore Tiffanie Marsh both scored to take a 5-0 advantage.

The Falcons responded in the bottom half of the frame when freshman Emily Comtois drove in junior Marissa Gemma with a sacrifice fly to center, while Brown blasted her first collegiate homerun to score Gilda to cut the deficit to 5-4 after one inning of play.

The Rams upped their margin in the top of the third as Boyle laced a triple into the left centerfield gap and eventually crossed the plate on an illegal pitch to make the score 6-4 but the Green and Gold managed to knot the score 6-6 with a pair of runs in bottom of the third frame as Ferreira launched her first collegiate homerun to left center.

Fitchburg State grabbed its first lead of the contest in the following inning when sophomore Galen Kerr opened the inning with single through the left side, moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt and a throwing error before scoring on a double steal for the 7-6 lead.

The hosts added to its advantage in the bottom of the sixth as senior Marissa Binnall reached on an infield single before Gildea connected on her first collegiate home run with a shot into left center for the 9-6 margin.

Framingham State battle back in the top of the seventh, scoring a pair of runs as McGrail and freshman Holly Greet collected back-to-back run scoring singles but the Falcons defense held off the late rally by inducing a game ending ground out to second base, resulting in the 9-8 final.

In the circle, Kerr picked up the win for the Falcons, allowing three runs on seven hits with six K's in six and two-thirds innings of relief, while junior Natasha Arseneau took the loss for Framingham State, yielding seven runs on 12 hits and three strikeouts in five innings of work.

Framingham State 4, Fitchburg State 3 (Game 2)

In the nightcap, Framingham State rebounded, registering four runs on seven hits in the 4-3 game two win to salvage the season spilt with Fitchburg State.

Senior Brittany Whiting went the distance for Fitchburg State, allowing four runs (3 earned) on seven hits with eight punch outs in the setback, while Marsh took the win for the Rams, giving up three runs (2 earned) on seven hits and two K's.

Framingham State grabbed the lead in the second inning as Boyle drew a leadoff walk, moved to second a single to right by McGrail before newcomer Megan Downing plated Boyle and McGrail with a two-run triple to left center for the early 2-0 lead. 

The Falcons cut into the deficit in the bottom of the second when senior Amanda Whitelaw singled to center and crossed the plate on a fielding miscue to make the score 2-1 after two innings of play.

The visitors upped its lead in the following inning as freshman Dayna Marchant walked, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Marsh for the 3-1 margin.

The Green and Gold answered again in the bottom of third frame when Binnall single to short, moved to third on a double to right center from Brown and scored on a sacrifice fly to left off the bat of Ferriera to the lead to 3-2.

The Rams added an insurance run in the top of the seventh as sophomore Marissa Flynn reached on a bunt single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, moved to third on base hit by Marchant and scored when Marchant forced a run down to allow Flynn to cross the plate for the 4-2 lead.

Fitchburg State continued to battle in the bottom of the seventh when Kerr blasted a home run to left center for her first collegiate home run but the rally would fall just short as the Rams got out of the jam with a fly out and a line out, resulting in the 4-3 game two final.

Whitelaw paced the Falcons game two offense with a pair of hits and one run scored, while Kerr added a homerun, one run scored and one RBI. 

For Framingham State, Downing hit 2-for-3 with a triple and two runs batted in, while Flynn finished with a pair hits and one run scored for the Rams.

Fitchburg State (6-5, 1-1 MASCAC) returns to action on Tuesday as it travels to Curry College for a double header starting at 3 p.m. Framingham State (3-10, 1-1  MASCAC) will host UMass Dartmouth on Tuesday for a twin billing starting at 3 p.m.

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