Falcons And Cougars Split Non-Conference Twin Bill

Forcier drives in game-winning run in the eighth for Green and Gold

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University softball team split a non-conference double header with the Cougars of Clark University this afternoon from the Donna-Lee Withington Memorial Softball Field as the Falcons took the opener 12-11 in eight innings before the Cougars secured the split with a 5-1, game two triumph.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 12, Clark 11 (Game One)

Score: Fitchburg State 1, Clark 5 (Game Two)

Records: Fitchburg State (9-10) I Clark (4-4)

How It Happened

Game One

Clark opened the contest with a 6-0 lead in the top of the first inning as senior Franseca Cirone (Frankling Square, N.Y.) connected on a two-run double to right field, while junior Natalie Stillwell (Beverly, Mass.) added a two-run double to center.

Fitchburg State answered with three runs in the third and a pair of runs in the fourth to trim the lead to 7-5 with freshmen Julia Gauvin (Granby, Mass.), Isabella Sousa (Charlton, Mass.) and Ella Marshall (Gloucester, Mass.) as well as junior Molly Grass (Rockland, Mass.) picking up RBI's.

The Cougars upped their margin to 10-5 in the top half of the fifth, highlighted by a two RBI single to left center from junior Kaylee Armida (Pine Bush (N.Y.), but the Falcons reduced the lead to (10-9) in their half of the fifth with sophomore Lauren Kirkconnell (Dayville, Conn.) and senior Lundyn Forcier (Woonsocket, R.I.) crossing the plate on a wild pitch and a throwing miscue before Grass and Marshall followed with run scoring singles.

The visitors extended the lead to 11-9 in the top of the sixth when junior Nicole Buckley (Hazlet, N.J.) launched a solo shot to right field, but the Green and Gold knotted the score at 11-11 in the bottom of the sixth on an RBI single to left center off the bat of sophomore Dana Cisowski (Torrington, Conn.) and a bases loaded walk by Grass to force extra innings.

The score remained tied going into the bottom of the eight when Forcier laced a run scoring single to left center that plated freshman Kiara Bigeau (Clinton, Mass.), who was placed on second base due to the international tie breaker, resulting in the 12-11, game one victory.

Inside the Numbers

• Grass led the way for the Falcons, going 3-for-4 with a double, triple two runs scored and three RBI
• Stillwell finished 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI for the Cougars
• Junior Sarah Cahill (Mansfield, Mass.) picked up the win for Fitchburg State, pitching two perfect innings of relief with four K's
• Buckley suffered the setback for Clark, allowing three unearned runs on six hits in 2.1 innings of work

Game Two

In game two, Clark grabbed a 1-0 margin in the top half of the second with Armida reaching on a fielding miscue that allowed senior Kaylee Gibson (Northfield, Mass.) to score. Fitchburg State tied the contest at 1-1 in the bottom of the second as Cahill singled up the middle, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI single up the middle off the bat of Cisowski.

The Cougars regained the lead for good in the top of the third when Cirone plated junior Eliza Lindberg (East Chatham, N.Y.) with a sacrifice fly to center field to make the score 2-1. Clark upped the lead to 3-1 in the following stanza with Gibson crossing the plate on a fielding miscue.

The visitors secured the game two triumph in the top of the sixth when Gibson doubled to center field, advanced to third on a fly out and scored as junior Reilly Bronson (Seymour, Conn.) singled through the right side, resulting in the 5-1 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Third meeting between the two teams in softball with the Falcons 2-1 vs the Cougars
• Cisowski paced the Fitchburg State, game two offense, hitting 1-for-4 with an RBI
• For Clark, Gibson went 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI
• Cahill took the loss game two loss for the Falcons, yielding five runs (2 earned) on nine hits with six strikeout over seven innings pitched
• Junior Jessica Sardilli (Farmington, Conn.) picked up the win for the Cougars, giving up one run on four hits with one K in the complete game effort.

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Friday as they host the Vikings of Salem State for a MASCAC twin billing, starting at 2:00 PM. Cougars will host the Pride of Springfield College on the same date for a conference double header at 3:00 PM.