Falcons Rally For Non-Conference Split Against Panthers

Cormier lead Green and Gold to non-conference split

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University softball team collected a split with the Panthers of Plymouth State University this afternoon in non-conference action from the Donna Lee Withington Memorial Softball Field as Plymouth State took the opener by a score of 6-2 before Fitchburg State rallied for an 11-10, eight inning triumph in the nightcap.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 2, Plymouth State 6 (Game One)

Score: Fitchburg State 11, Plymouth State 10 (Game Two)

Records: Fitchburg State (5-6) I Plymouth State (6-7)

How It Happened

Game One

Plymouth State opened the scoring in the top of the second as freshman Madison Pelletier (New Gloucester, Maine) singled up the middle before junior Sam McCann (Berlin, N.H.) blasted a two-run home run to left field, while sophomore Kacie Johnston (Campton, N.J.) added an RBI double for the 3-0 edge.

The Panthers upped their lead in the top of the fifth when senior Lauren Archambault (Rehoboth, Mass.) and classmate Emily Picard (Berlin, N.H.) were hit by a pitch and McCann followed with two-run single to left field to plate Archambault and Picard for the 5-0 advantage.

Fitchburg State cut the lead to 5-1 in the bottom half of the fifth with sophomore Lauren Kirkconnell (Dayville, Conn.) reaching on a fielder's choice, moved to second on a ground out and scored on an RBI single by senior Morgan Cormier (Leominster, Mass.).

Trailing 6-1 in the bottom of the seventh, the Falcons answered again as Kirkconnell singled, moved second on a fielding miscue and proceeded to score on a single off the bat of newcomer Ella Marshall (Gloucester, Mass.), but that's as close as the Green and Gold would get as Plymouth State took the opener by a score of 6-2.

Inside the Numbers

• Forcier paced the Falcons, going 2-for-3 on the day
• McCann finished 2-for-3 with a home run, one run scored and four RBI for the Panthers
• Junior Sarah Cahill (Mansfield, Mass.) suffered the setback for Fitchburg State, allowing three earned runs on three hits over 1.1 innings of work
• Sophomore Jersey Strum (Somersworth, N.H.) picked up the win for Plymouth State, yielding two runs (1 earned) on six hits with four K's in innings pitched

Game Two

In the second game of the day, Plymouth State raced out to an early 3-0 margin, scoring one run in each inning on RBI's from Pelletier, sophomore Paige Beede (Fitzwilliam, N.H.) and freshman Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.).

Fitchburg State cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth as senior Audrey Johnson (Fitchburg, Mass.) singled, moved to third on double off the bat of classmate Lundyn Forcier (Woonsocket, R.I.) and scored on wild pitch.

The Panthers extended its advantage to 8-3 in the top of the seventh with senior Nyah Colby (Lunenburg, Mass.) and freshman Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) notching RBI's in the frame.

The Falcons rallied to knot the score at 8-8 in the bottom of the seventh though when freshman Alyssa Beaulieu (Derry, N.H.) and Cahill scoring on wild pitches, while junior Molly Grass (Rockland, Mass.) and newcomer Isabella Sousa (Charlton, Mass.) adding RBI's.

In the eighth inning, Plymouth State regained the lead (10-8) as McCann laced an RBI single to center and sophomore Abby Kenison (Boscawen, N.H.) registering RBI singled, but Fitchburg State would plate three runs in their half of the stanza when Forcier reached on a throwing error, allowing freshman Julia Gauvin (Granby, Mass.) to score before Cormier laced a two-run double to left center that plated Kirkconnell and Forcier, resulting in the 11-10 come from behind victory.

Inside the Numbers

• 60th meeting between the two teams in softball with the Falcons 16-43-1 vs the Panthers
• Cormier hit 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI for Fitchburg State
• For Plymouth State, Montelongo finished 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI
• Cahill earned the win for the Falcons, giving up seven unearned runs on five hits with three strikeouts in four innings of work
• Strum took the loss for the Panthers, allowing five runs (2 earned) on one hit in 1.1 innings of work

Up Next

Falcons return to action tomorrow as they travel to Western New England to take on the Golden Bears for a non-conference double header, starting at 1:00 PM. Panthers will visit Gordon College on Monday for a non-conference twin billing at 3:00 PM.