Softball Picks Up Split On Day Three

Fitchburg State blanked by TCNJ, 5-0 in opener; Registers 7-0 shutout over Endicott in the nightcap

CLERMONT, Fla. – Fitchburg State collected a spilt on day three of their 2016 Florida Spring Trip. The Falcons suffered a 5-0 setback to the Lions of TCNJ in the opening contest before bouncing back with a 7-0 shutout victory over the Gulls of Endicott College in the second game on the afternoon.

TCNJ 5, Fitchburg State 0 (Game 1)

In game one, the College of New Jersey posted five runs on 11 hits en-route to its fifth win on the season.

The Lions took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning when freshman Jess Santelli single to shortstop and scored on an RBI double of the bat of sophomore Madison Levine, who crossed the plate on a run scoring triple off the bat of newcomer Gaby Bennett before Bennett scored a single from classmate Jess McGuire.

The College of NJ upped it advantage in the following frame as senior Steph Vuono walked, moved to third on sacrifice bunt and scored a base hit to center by Santelli for the 4-0 margin after two innings of play.

The Lions capped the scoring in top of the seventh when Santelli singled to start the inning, advanced to second on sacrifice bunt, stole third and scored on bunt from McGuire, resulting in the 5-0 final.

For the Falcons, senior Marissa Gemma paced the offense, hitting 2-for-4, while sophomore Emily Comtois added one hit for the Green and Gold. McGuire led the way for TCNJ, going 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI, while Santelli finished a perfect 4-for-4 at the dish with a pair of runs scored and on run driven in.

In the circle, junior Galen Kerr suffered the loss for Fitchburg State, allowing five runs on 11 hits with three K's in the complete game effort, while sophomore Sam Platt pitched a complete game, three hits with four strikeout for the Lions to pick up the win.

Fitchburg State 7, Endicott 0 (Game 2)

In the nightcap, Fitchburg State erupted for seven runs on ten hits en-route to earning a spilt on day three of its 2016 Florida Spring Trip.

Offensively for Fitchburg State, sophomore Katie Gildea led the way, going 3-for-4 at the dish with a run scored and one RBI, while newcomer Michelle LeBlanc added a double to go along with one run scored and a pair of RBI.

Endicott was paced by sophomore Margaret Martzolf, who registered the lone hit on the afternoon for the Gulls as well as a walk.

On the mound, freshman Kaylee Sylvestre registered her second one hitter of the season, allowing just three walks and four strikeouts in the complete game effort for the Falcons, while sophomore Mikaela Mallozzi took the loss for Endicott, giving up seven runs on ten hits (1 K) in seven innings of work.

Fitchburg State broke a 0-0 stalemate in the top of the fourth as junior Jessalynne Brown singled to lead off the stanza, moved to second on single to left center Gildea before pinch runner Damari Grossi scored on a fielding miscue for the 1-0 margin.

The Falcons extended its lead in the top of the fifth, plating three runs on three hits when Gemma singled through the left side, moved to second and third on a fielder's choice and a groundout and scored on single by Gildea, which also plated M. LeBlanc before Gildea came home on a wild pitch following a single off the bat of Comtois for the 4-0 advantage.

The Green and Gold upped its margin in the following frame as newcomer Maddie Medina singled, advanced to second on a fielding miscue, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single to right field by junior Kelsea LeBlanc, while M. LeBlanc proceed to drive in a pair with a double to left, which plated K. LeBlanc and Gemma to make the score 7-0.

Fitchburg State (2-4, 0-0 MASCAC) will be back in on Thursday following an off day as it battles Norwich University at 11 a.m. and Lasell at 1 p.m.

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