Softball Opens 2024 Campaign With Split

Solt notches first collegiate victory for Green and Gold

Melbourne, FL: The Fitchburg Softball team opened their 2024 season this evening, splitting a pair of contest with the Rams of Cornell College in day one action of the Space Coast Tournament at Pride Stadium Field as the Falcons collected a 9-6 triumph in the opener before dropping an 8-6 decision in the night cap.

THE BASICS:

- Date: 3/10/24

- Score: Fitchburg State 9, Cornell 6 (GM1)

- Score: Fitchburg State 6, Cornell 8 (GM2)

- Records: Fitchburg State (1-1, 0-0 MASCAC), Cornell (1-1, 0-0 MWC)

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game One

-  Cornell opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as junior Addie Bowman (Maquoketa, IA) walked, stole second and scored on a sacrifice bunt from senior Caitlin Babcock (Mount Vernon, IA) for the 1-0 edge. Fitchburg State knotted the score (1-1) in the top of the second when senior Lauren Kirkconnell (Dayville, CT) reached on an error, advanced to second on base knock from sophomore Adria McKenzie (Lowell, MA) and crossed the plate on an RBI single off the bat of senior Dana Cisowski (Torrington, CT).

- The Falcons took the lead in the following frame with senior Molly Grass (Rockland, MA) and junior Isabella Sousa (Charlton, MA) drawing walks before freshman Jessica Mueller (Fitchburg, MA) ripped an RBI double to right center, scoring Grass, while McKenzie followed with a sacrifice fly that plated Sousa for the 3-1 advantage.

- The Rams answered back in the bottom of the stanza, tying the contest at 3-3 with Babock earning a walk and scoring on a double from senior Miranda Keith (Mazomanie, WI) and a fielding miscue, while Keith crossed the plate on a run scoring double by newcomer Linnea Drever (Forest Park, IL). The Green and Gold regained the lead in the top of the fifth when senior Allison Pogorek (Millbury, MA) drove in pinch runner Alexis DeSimone (Ashburnham, MA) before Cisowski reached on a fielders' choice that scored Kirkconnell for the 5-3 margin. Fitchburg State secured the victory in the top of the seventh, crossing the plate four times in the frame with junior Ella Marshall (Gloucester, MA) collecting a sacrifice fly, while Grass laced a two-run double to right field, resulting in the 9-6 final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  Grass led the way for the Falcons, going 2-for-3 with a double, one run scored and two RBI

-  Cisowski chipped in with one hit and a pair of RBI

-  Sophomore Madison Solt (Salem, NH) earned the win for Fitchburg State, allowing six runs on ten hits with four strikeouts in the complete game effort. With the win, Solt notched her first collegiate victory in the circle

-  For the Rams, Keith finished a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, triple, two runs scored and two RBI

-  Drever added three hits, including a double and two RBI

-  Junior Holly Kramer (La Motte, IA) took the loss for Cornell, yielding five runs (2 earned) on four hits and three K's over four innings pitched

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game Two

-  Cornell grabbed a 2-0 edge in the top of the first with Bowman crossing the plate following a fielding miscue and sophomore Monet Roelle (Edmond, OK) drawing a base loaded walk that brought in Babcock. Fitchburg State responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning when junior Julia Gauvin (Granby, MA) singled up the middle to score Cisowski before junior Sydney Gabay (Bohemia, NY) and McKenzie added RBI's with a bases loaded walk and a groundout for the 3-2 advantage. The Rams knotted the score the following frame as Drever registered a run scoring single to left that scored senior Mary Puffett (Independence, IA) to make the score 3-3.

- The Falcons regained the lead in the bottom of the third with Gabay reaching on a base knock down the leftfield line, advancing to third on a throwing miscue before Cisowski ripped a two-run single to left center, plating Gabay and Pogorek for the 5-3 margin. Cornell retied the contest (5-5) when Drever ripped a two-run triple to center that scored Babcock and senior Mady Rainey (Huntley, IL).

- The Rams answered again in the top of the fifth, taking an 8-5 lead as Babcock connected on a two-run single to right field, driving in Puffett and senior Kaylynn Sparks (Davenport, IA), while Drever followed with a sacrifice fly, scoring Bowman. The Green and Gold trimmed the lead to 8-6 with Cisowski registering an RBI single up the middle.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  This afternoon's contest marked the first ever meeting between the two teams on softball field with the Falcons 1-1 all-time when taking on the Rams

-  Cisowski paced the Falcons, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and three RBI

-  Mueller added two hits, including a double for the Green and Gold

-  Senior Sarah Cahill (Mansfield, MA) allowed five runs (2 earned) on six hits with two K's and five walks over four innings of work

-  For the Rams, Dever finished 3-for-4 with a triple and four RBI

-  Babcock chipped in with one hit, two runs scored and two RBI

-  Freshman Lexi Ellermeier (Iowa City, IA) earned the win for Cornell, giving up six runs (2 earned) on seven hits as well as three strikeouts and nine walks in the complete game effort

UP NEXT:

- Fitchburg State returns to action on tomorrow when they take on the Cougars of St. Francis and the Pride of Clarke on day two action of the Space Coast Spring games at 10:00AM and 2:30 PM

STAY CONNECTED:

- For the latest on Fitchburg State University Athletics, follow the Falcons via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.