Falcons Split On Final Day Of The Fastpitch Dreams Classic

Collect 9-6 triumph over Suffolk in opener; Fall 8-7 to Medaille in the nightcap

Myrtle Beach, S.C. – The Fitchburg State softball team concluded their annual spring trip to Myrtle Beach this afternoon by defeating the Rams of Suffolk University, 9-6 before dropping an 8-7 decision to the Mavericks of Medaille College in the nightcap.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 9, Suffolk 6 (Game One)

Records: Fitchburg State (3-3) | Suffolk (0-1)

Score: Fitchburg State 7, Medaille 8 (Game Two)

Records: Fitchburg State (3-4) | Medaille (1-0)

How It Happened

In game one, Fitchburg State took a 3-1 edge in the top of the second as senior Lundyn Forcier (Woonsocket, R.I.) and sophomore Allison Pogorek (Millbury, Mass.) walked before Forcier scored on a fielding error and junior Madison Mantegani (Bellingham, Mass.) and newcomer Ella Marshall (Gloucester, Mass.) added RBI singles.

The Falcons upped their lead in the following frame with Forcier and Pogorek drawing walk, while Mantegani singled to short-stop to load the bases. Junior Molly Grass (Rockland, Mass.) reached on a fielding miscue to bring across all three runners to make the score 6-1.

Suffolk trimmed the lead to 7-6 in the bottom of the sixth, but the Green and Gold tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the top half of the seventh as Pogorek walked, stole second and later stole home on a double steal, while Grass brought home Mantegani with a sacrifice fly to center, resulting in the 9-6 final.

In game two, Fitchburg State grabbed an early 2-0 advantage as Grass tripled to right center and scored on an RBI ground out off the bat of freshman Isabella Sousa (), while Marshall walked, stole second, moved to third on a ground out and crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly from Forcier.

Trailing 5-2, the Falcons cut the lead to 5-4 in the top half of the third when senior Audrey Johnson (Fitchburg, Mass.) doubled to left center and scored on a triple from freshman Julia Gauvin (Granby, Mass.) before newcomer Mackenzie Leveille (Brooklyn, Conn.) laced a single through the left side to plate Gauvin.

The Green and Gold regained the lead in the top of the fifth as Johnson walked, advanced to second on a walk by Forcier and scored along with Pogorek following a muffed throw for the 6-5 edge. With the score knotted at 6-6, Fitchburg State took the lead when Sousa singled to center, moved to second on a single by Johnson before pinch runner Bryanna O'Connor (Hudson, N.H.) scored on a single to center by Forcier for the 7-6 lead.

Medaille however would scratch across runs in the sixth and seventh for the 8-7 victory.

Inside the Numbers

• First ever meeting between the Falcons and the Rams in the circle
• Mantegani led the way for the Falcons, going 2-for-2 with two runs scored and one RBI
• Junior Sarah Cahill (Mansfield, Mass.) earned the win, allowing one earned run on seven hits with nine strikeouts over 6.2 innings of work
• Second meeting between Fitchburg State and Medaille with the Falcons 1-1 all-time when taking on the Mavericks
• Forcier finished 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI
• Leveille took the loss for Fitchburg State, allowing three earned runs on seven hits with four K's in 6.1 innings of relief

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday as they travel to Bay Path University to take on the Wildcats in a non-conference double header, starting at 1:00 PM.