Baseball Soars Past Rams On Senior Day

Abt drives in four for the Falcons

Fitchburg, MA: The Fitchburg State baseball team collected a 16-8 victory over the Rams of Framingham State this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from Riccards Field.

THE BASICS:

- Date: 5/3/24

- Score: Fitchburg State 16, Framingham State 8

- Records: Fitchburg State (12-24, 7-12 MASCAC), Framingham State (13-15, 11-6 MASCAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

-  Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as junior Jacob Hurrell (Haverhill, A) was hit by a pitch, moved to third on double to right center off the bat of sophomore Joseph Abt (Newbury, MA) before sophomore Adam Koza (Windham, NH) laced a two-run single to left field, scoring Hurrell and Abt for the 2-0 edge.

- The Falcons pushed the lead to 6-0 in the following frame with senior Matthew Kelly (E. Bridgewater, MA) collecting a two-run double to center field, while Hurrell added a two-single to right field.

- The Green and Gold upped the advantage in the bottom of the fourth when junior Cole DuHaime (Warminster, PA) singled through the right side, advanced to third on a fielding miscue before Abt ripped a two-run double to right center, while Koza, junior Matthew Smith (Flanders, NJ) and newcomer Luke Sterner (Stafford, VA) notched RBI doubles for the 11-0 advantage.

- Framingham State answered in the top of the fifth as sophomore Ryan Plocker (Dix Hills, NY) drew a bases loaded walk that plated senior JC Espinal (Peabody, MA) before sophomore Shane Costello (Wilmington, MA) ripped a two-run single center field and senior Ryan Boyle (Arlington, MA) added a bases-loaded walk that scored Plocker to make the score 11-4.

- The Rams cut the deficit to 11-6 in the top of the sixth with freshman Matthew Hart (Canton, MA) singling to center field to bring in junior Dane Frellick (Fairview, NC) and junior Danny Robichaud (Dracut, MA). Fitchburg State answered back in the bottom of the seventh when Hurrell registered an RBI double to right field before Abt followed with a two-run single down the right field line for the 16-6 lead.

- Framingham State trimmed the lead to 16-7 in the top of the eighth with Robichaud reaching on a double to right center and eventually crossed the plate on an RBI double to left center from Plocker. The Rams responded in the top of the ninth when graduate student Robert Johnston (Watertown, CT) doubled to score Boyle, resulting in the 16-8 final.

- Prior to the contest the Fitchburg State baseball team honored five seniors playing in their final regular season contest for their contributions to the program. The seniors were #2 Devin Lorae (Canton, GA), #4 Matthew Kelly (E. Bridgewater, MA), #7 Maxwell Kelly (E. Bridgewater, MA), #24 Carter Pike (Weare, NH) and #27 Eric Mccallum (Whitman, MA).

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  This afternoon's contest marked the 96th between Fitchburg State and Framingham State on the baseball diamond with the Falcons 45-51 all-time when taking on the Rams

-  Abt led the way for the Falcons, going 4-for-6 with three doubles, three runs scored and four RBI

-  Koza and Mat Kelly added two hits with one double apiece and three RBI each

-  Sophomore Sy Sullivan (Tigard, OR) collected the win for Fitchburg State, giving up four runs on eight hits and five K's over 4.1 innings pitched

-  For the Rams, Plocker finished 1-for-2 with a double, one run scored and two RBI

-  Hart chipped in with one hit and two RBI

-  Senior Scott Nosky (Dedham, MA) allowed five runs on four hits and striking out two over 2.2 innings of relief in a no-decision for Framingham State

UP NEXT:

- Fitchburg State returns to action tomorrow as they travel to Framingham State to take on the Rams in a MASCAC twin billing, starting at 1:00PM.

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