Falcons And Lasers Split Non-Conference Twin Bill

Johnson collects 100^th career hit; Grass ties single season home run mark 

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University softball team split a non-conference doubleheader with the Lasers of Lasell University this afternoon from the Donna Lee Withington Memorial Softball Field as the Lasers notched a 10-2 game one win before the Falcons salvaged the spilt with an 8-1 game two triumph.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 2, Lasell 10 (Game One)

Score: Fitchburg State 8, Lasell 1 (Game Two)

Records: Fitchburg State (15-14) I Lasell (12-14)

How It Happened

Game One

Lasell opened the scoring in the top of the first as sophomore Ally Kirck (Hamden, Conn.) singled, stole second and raced home on a wild pitch for the 1-0 edge. Fitchburg State answered in the bottom of the first when junior Molly Grass (Rockland, Mass.) reached on a fielding miscue, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and crossed the plated on an RBI single to left field off the bat of senior Audrey Johnson (Fitchburg, Mass.) to knot the score at 1-1.

The Lasers regained the lead in the top of the second with Kirck, freshman Meghan Theall (Billerica, Mass.) and classmate Mackenzie Still (Middleboro, Mass.) registering RBI base knock to make the score 7-1.

The visitors extended its advantage (10-1) in the top half of the fifth when junior Angelena Piers (Raynham, Mass.) drove in sophomore Eryn Sheeley (North Haven, Conn.), while Theall and Still added RBI's in the frame.

The Green and Gold cut the deficit to 10-2 in the bottom of the fifth as sophomore Dana Cisowski (Torrington, Conn.) singled before pinch runner Morgan Cormier (Leominster, Mass.) moved to third on double from Grass and scored on a ground out by newcomer Julia Gauvin (Granby, Mass.), but Theall induced a game ending ground, resulting in the 10-2, game one final.

Inside the Numbers

• Johnson led the way for the Falcons, going 1-for-3 with an RBI, including her 100^th career hit
• For the Lasers, Still finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI
• Senior Hayley O'Brien (Lynnfield, Mass.) took the loss for Fitchburg State, allowing ten runs (7 earned) on eight hits with four K's in five innings of work
• Theall earned the win for Lasell, yielding two runs (1 earned) on five hits with one strikeout in the complete game effort

Game Two

In game two, Lasell jumped out to an early 1-0 margin with senior Brianna Gendreau (Warren, R.I.) singled and later scored on an RBI double off the bat of sophomore Katie Hopkins (Garden City Park, N.Y.).

Fitchburg State responded in their half of the first, plating five runs as Grass launched a solo shot to left field before newcomer Isabella Sousa (Charlton, Mass.) and sophomore Allison Pogorek (Millbury, Mass.) followed with RBI singles. Newcomer Kiara Bigeau (Clinton, Mass.) then laced a two-run single to center field to make the score 5-1.

The Falcons secured the victory in the bottom of the sixth when Grass crossed the plate on a fielding miscue before Johnson and Sousa added back-to-back RBI doubles, resulting in the 8-1, game two final.

Inside the Numbers

• 11th meeting between the two teams on the softball field with the Falcons 6-5 when taking on the Lasers
• Grass paced Fitchburg State, hitting 3-for-4 with a double, home run, two runs scored and one RBI
• For Lasell, Gendreau went 2-for-4 with a run scored
• Freshman Mackenzie Leveille (Berlin, Conn.) earned the win for the Falcons, giving up one run on five hits with three punchouts in the complete game effort
• Sophomore Grace Couto (Assonet, Mass.) suffered the setback for the Lasers, yielding five runs on six hits
• Grass tied the Falcons single season home run record with her eighth home run of the season.

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Saturday as they host the Bears of Bridgewater State for a MASCAC twin bill, starting at 12:00 PM. Lasers will host the Sharks of Simmons College on the same day for a conference double header at 12:00 PM.