Falcons Pick Up MASCAC Split With Owls

Falcons set single game program record four home runs in game one

Westfield, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University softball team managed to earn a split with the Owls of Westfield State University this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from Alumni Field as the Owls picked up a 14-13, game one win before the Falcons earned the conference split with a 12-8, game two triumph.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 13, Westfield State 14 (Game One)

Score: Fitchburg State 12, Westfield State 8 (Game Two)

Records: Fitchburg State (8-9, 1-1 MASCAC) I Westfield State (4-14, 1-1 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Game One

Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the top of the second as senior Audrey Johnson (Fitchburg, Mass.) connected on her team-leading fourth home run of the season, launching a solo shot to center field for the 1-0 edge.

Westfield State responded with two runs in their half of the second frame with junior Megan Metzger (Uxbridge, Mass.) tripling to right field to bring in freshman Michaela Bruno (Rockland, Mass.) before Metzger scored on an RBI single off the bat of junior Christina Ciampa (Vernon, Conn.).

The Falcons regained the lead in the following stanza when sophomore Dana Cisowski (Torrington, Conn.) notched her first collegiate home run, a solo blast to center, while Johnson and junior Sarah Cahill (Mansfield, Mass.) followed with run scoring singles to make the score 4-2.

The Owls took the lead back in the bottom of third as senior Jess Chenard (Auburn, Mass.) laced a two-run double to center and eventually crossed the plate on a fielding miscue for the 5-4 margin. The Green and Gold answered back in the top of the fourth inning with junior Molly Grass (Rockland, Mass.) ripped a solo shot to right center for her third home run of the season to knot the score at 5-5.

Fitchburg State regained the lead (11-5) in the top half of the fifth as the Falcons proceeded to load the bases on a single from senior Lundyn Forcier (Woonsocket, R.I.) and back-to-back walks from sophomore Allison Pogorek (Millbury, Mass.) and Cisowski before Grass rocketed a grand slam to straight away center, while newcomer Isabella Sousa (Charlton, Mass.) and Johnson added RBI singles.

Trailing 12-9 going into the bottom of the seventh Westfield State retied the contest when senior Lindsay Cordopatri (Walpole, Mass.) laced a bases clearing double into the left center field gap to tie the contest at 12-12 to force extra innings.

 In the top of the tenth, the Falcons grabbed the lead back as pinch runner Madison Mantegani (Bellingham, Mass.) advanced to third and scored on throwing miscue, but the Owls secured the victory in their half of the tenth on an RBI single from sophomore Jordan Lummus (Pittsfield, Mass.) and a sacrifice fly by senior Colleen Hughes (Hanson, Mass.), resulting in the 14-13, game one victory in ten innings.

Inside the Numbers

• Grass paced the Falcons, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double, two runs scored and five RBI
• Cordopatri finished 4-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and five RBI for the Owls
• Cahill took the loss for Fitchburg State, yielding seven runs (5 earned) on ten hits and eight strikeouts over 7.2 innings of work
• Sophomore Stephanie Scoville (Northfield, Mass.) earned the win for Westfield State, giving up one run on one hits with four K's in four innings of relief.
• Cisowski belted her first collegiate home run for the Falcons
• Falcons set single game program record for home runs in a game with four

Game Two

In game two, Westfield State opened the scoring in the bottom of the third when Ciampa singled through the left side before Cordopatr laced a two-run home run to left field for the 2-0 margin.

Fitchburg State erupted for ten runs in the top of the fourth frame with Forcier, Pogorek and Cisowski collecting RBI's before Grass proceeded to launch her second grand slam of the day to right center. Johnson then added a two-run shot to center for the 10-2 lead.

The Falcons would up its lead to 12-5 in the top of the sixth when sophomore Lauren Kirkconnell (Dayville, Conn.) notched an RBI groundout before the Owls trimmed the lead to 12-8 in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run off the bat of junior Alyssa Clark (Uxbridge, Mass.).

Inside the Numbers

• 90th meeting between the two teams in softball with the Falcons 27-63 vs the Owls
• Grass was solid Fitchburg State again, hitting 2-for-5 with grand slam, one run scored and four RBI
• For Westfield State Cordopatri finished 2-for-4 with a triple, one run scored and four RBI
• Cahill collected the win for the Falcons, yielding eight runs on 16 hits with three strikeouts in the complete game effort
• Scoville took the loss for the Owls, allowing 12 runs on 14 hits with three K's in six innings pitched

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Tuesday as they host the Cougars of Clark University for a non-conference twin bill, starting at 3:00 PM.