Falcons Salvage Non-Conference Split With Raiders

Johnson nets second homerun of the season; O'Connor adds first collegiate hit 

Nashua, N.H. – The Fitchburg State University softball team earned a split with Raiders of Rivier University this evening in non-conference action from the Raider Diamond as Rivier took the opener by a score of 2-1 before Fitchburg State salvaged the split with a 16-5 triumph in the nightcap.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 1, Rivier 2 (Game One)

Score: Fitchburg State 0, Rivier 0 (Game Two)

Records: Fitchburg State (4-5) I Rivier (1-7)

How It Happened

Game One

Fitchburg State grabbed a 1-0 edge in the top half of the second inning when senior Audrey Johnson (Fitchburg, Mass.) launched her team-leading second home run of the season over the left field fence.

The score remained 1-0 going into the bottom of the sixth as senior Julia Dailey (Dracut, Mass.) singled to left field, moved to second and third on a sacrifice bunt and an steal and scored on a base hit of the bat of classmate Katerina St. Angelo (Johnston, R.I.) to knot the score at 1-1.

The Raiders completed the comeback in the following frame with sophomore Alicia McKenna (Litchfield, N.H.) doubling to right field, advanced to third on a single from senior Micayla Bourski (Pawtucket, R.I.) and crossed the plate as Dailey laced a single to left field, resulting in the 2-1 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Johnson led the way for the Falcons, going, 1-for-3 with a home run, one run scored and an RBI
• Dailey finished 3-of-4 with a run scored an RBI for the Raiders
• Freshman Mackenzie Leveille (Brooklyn, Conn.) suffered the setback for Fitchburg State, allowing two earned runs on seven hits with four K's over 6.2 innings of work
• Junior Nicole Verrette (Haverhill, Mass.) picked up the win for Rivier, giving up one earned run on three hits and six strikeouts in the complete game effort

Game Two

In the second game of the evening, Fitchburg State took a 1-0 margin in the top of the second as freshman Julia Gauvin (Granby, Mass.) ripped a triple to right field and came across the score on an RBI groundout by senior Lundyn Forcier (Woonsocket, R.I.).

Rivier tied the contest in their half of the second when senior Nicole Capra (Windham, N.H.) led off the frame with a triple down the right field line and scored on a groundout by Bourski to make the score 1-1.

The Falcons regained the lead (2-1) in the following stanza as sophomore Lauren Kirkconnell (Dayville, Conn.) and junior Molly Grass (Rockland, Mass.) led off with back-to-back singles before newcomer Ella Marshall (Gloucester, Mass.) reached on a fielder's choice that allowed Grass to cross the plate after Marshall forced a run down.

The Green and Gold extended its lead in the top of the fourth with Gauvin and junior Sarah Cahill (Mansfield, Mass.) reaching on fielder's choices, while senior Morgan Cormier (Leominster, Mass.) lofted a single to center to score Gauvin before Kirkconnell laced a two-run double to center that scored Cahill and Cormier for the 5-1 advantage.

The Raiders cut the deficit to 5-3 in the bottom half of the fourth as junior Alyssa Gerardi (Manchester, Vt.) reached on a fielder's choice to bring home Capra and senior Sarah McCluskey (Lowell, Mass.) added an RBI groundout.

Fitchburg State responded in the following innings when Marshall and freshman Isabella Sousa (Charlton, Mass.) collected singles and Johnson followed with a walk to load the bases. Gauvin then delivered a two-run single to center to plate Marshall and pinch runner Bryanna O'Connor (Hudson, N.H.) to push the lead to 7-3

The Falcons secured the game two triumph, scoring eight runs on seven hits in the top of the seventh, keyed by a two-run double off the bat of Cormier, while Grass, Marshall, O'Connor and Forcier added RBI's in the frame, resulting in the 15-5 final.

Inside the Numbers

• 16th meeting between the two teams in softball with the Falcons 13-3 vs the Raiders
• Cormier hit 2-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and three RBI for Fitchburg State
• For Rivier, Capra batted 2-for-4 with a double, triple and two runs scored
• Cahill earned the win for the Falcons, yielding five runs (3 earned) on nine hits with five punchouts over seven innings of work
• Freshman Sydney Greeno (Shirley, Mass.) took the loss for the Raiders, giving up nine runs on 13 hits with one K over six innings pitched

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday as they host the Panthers of Plymouth State for a non-conference twin-billing, starting at 12:00 PM.