Falcons and Rams Spilt MASCAC Opener, 8-0/5-4

Falcons blank Rams 8-0 in opener; suffer tough 5-4 setback in the nightcap

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. The Fitchburg State University softball team collected a split with the Rams of Framingham State University in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this afternoon at the Maple Street Field. Fitchburg State registered an 8-0 win in the opener before the Rams rebounded with a 5-4 walk off win in the nightcap.

Fitchburg State 8, Framingham State 0 (Game 1)

Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the top of the first when freshman Maddie Medina drew a one-out walk before sophomore Emily Comtois launched a two-run home run over the left field fence for the 2-0 advantage.

The Falcons upped its lead in the following inning as newcomer Kaylee Sylvestre singled, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on base hit from junior Kelsea LeBlanc. Two batters later, Medina collected her first collegiate homer with a blast to straight center, scoring senior Marissa Gemma to make the score 7-0.

The Green and Gold added an insurance run in the top of the third frame when Gemma singled to short, moved to second on a throwing miscue and scored off of sacrifice fly off the bat of junior Jessalynne Brown, resulting in the 8-0 final.

Gemma led the charge for Fitchburg State, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI, while senior Tori Cyrus finished a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish. Medina and Comtois were also solid for the Falcons, combining for two home runs, three runs scored and four RBI.

For the Rams, sophomore Dayna Marchant hit 2-for-2 with a double, while freshman Lauren Salisbury and sophomore Jessica Peitersen notched the other two hits for Framingham State.

In the circle, junior Galen Kerr picked up the win for the Falcons, allowing just four hits with three strikeouts in five innings of work, while senior Natasha Arseneau yielded two runs (1 earned) on six hits in four innings of relief for Framingham State.

Framingham State 5, Fitchburg State 4 (Game 2)

In the night cap, Framingham State rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning as sophomore Megan Downing plated Machant with a single to center before Salisbury drove in junior Tiffanie Marsh for the winning run on a base hit center, resulting in the 5-4 game two final.

Gemma paced the Falcons game two offense, hitting 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI, while Sylvestre added a pair of hits, including a double, one run scored and two runs batted in for the Green and Gold.

For the Rams, Marchant went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Salisbury added to the mix with a pair hits and one run driven in.

In the circle, Kerr took the loss of the Falcons, allowing two runs on four this in 3.1 innings of relief, while Pietersen earned the win for Framingham State, giving up four runs (3 earned) on five hits with one K.

Framingham State took the lead in the bottom of the first as Marsh doubled to center before sophomore Anna Dziok doubled in Marsh for the 1-0 margin. Fitchburg State grabbed the lead top of the second when sophomore Katie Gildea singled, moved to second on base hit by senior Brianna Uga before Sylvestre doubled to center to score Gildea, while Gemma added a two run single that plated Uga and Sylvestre for the 3-1 advantage.

Fitchburg State upped its margin in the top of the fourth as Cyrus singled to short and advanced to second on a throwing miscue, move to third on sacrifice bunt and scored on a ground out off the bat of Sylvestre to make the score 4-1.

The Rams battled back with two runs in the bottom of fourth when junior Marissa Flynn reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a double to center by Pietersen, while junior Kylie Boyle knock in Pietersen with a base knock to right field to cut the deficit to 4-3, setting the stages for the walk off in the seventh.

Fitchburg State (8-8, 1-1 MASCAC) will be back in action on Tuesday as it hosts the Hawks of Becker College for a double header starting at 3 p.m. Framingham State (6-12, 1-1 MASCAC) will host Brandeis University on Tuesday for a twin billing with a 3 pm start time.

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