Softball Falls Twice On Day Three At Space Coast Tournament

Grass ties career total bases program record

Melbourne, FL: The Fitchburg Softball team dropped a pair of contests today in day three action of the 2024 Space Coast Tournament as the Falcons dropped a 7-1 decision to the Saints of Aquinas in the opener before falling 5-2 to the Rams of Columbia International in the nightcap.

THE BASICS:

- Date: 3/13/24

- Score: Fitchburg State 1, Aquinas 7 (GM1)

- Score: Fitchburg State 2, Columbia International 5 (GM2)

- Records: Fitchburg State (1-4, 0-0 MASCAC), Aquinas (13-2)

- Records: Fitchburg State (1-5, 0-0 MASCAC), Columbia International (10-11)

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game One

-  Aquinas took a 2-0 edge in the top of the third as freshman Katie Carlson (Holland, MI) laced a two-run triple to right field that scored senior Haley Myers (Frankfort, MI) and sophomore McKenna Hinkle (Byron Center, MI). Fitchburg State responded in the bottom of the fourth when senior Allison Pogorek (Millbury, MA) singled up the middle to plate classmate Lauren Kirkconnell (Dayville, CT) to make the score 2-1.

- The Saints pushed the lead to 4-1 in the top of the fifth with sophomore Jessica Dobias (Hudsonville, MI) connecting on a two-run single, scoring senior Leah Vaughn (Spring Lake, MI) and senior Elizabeth Haunhorst (St. Joseph, MI). Aquinas secured the victory in the top of the seventh as sophomore Jaden Delchambre (Henderson, NV) brought in junior Emma Houseman (North Muskegon (MI), resulting in the 7-1 final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  This afternoon's contest marked the first ever meeting between the Saints and Falcons on the softball field with Fitchburg State 0-1 all-time when taking on Aquinas

-  Grass paced the Falcons, hitting 2-for-4

-  Pogorek added one hit and an RBI for the Green and Gold

-  Senior Mary Kate Moreau (Berkley, MA) was tagged with the loss, yielding seven runs (4 earned) on 12 hits in the complete game effort

-  For the Saints, Carlson hit 1-for-2 with a triple and two RBI

-  Dobias chipped in with two hits and a pair of RBI

-  Senior Grace Maguire (Kalamazoo, MI) earned the win for Aquinas, giving up one unearned run on four hits and five K's in four innings of work

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game Two

-  Columbia International grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first as freshman Sydnee Dial (Laurinburg, NC) singled to left field, scoring junior Megan Stolzenbach (Irma, SC) and classmate Dallas Mayers (Little Mountain, SC) for the 2-0 margin. The Rams upped the lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the second with Mayers and freshman Lilli Petty (Clayton, SC) registering RBI base knocks.

- Fitchburg State answered in the top of the sixth when senior Sarah Cahill (Mansfield, MA) singled through the right side, moved to second on a fielders' choice from newcomer Jessica Mueller (Fitchburg, MA), while freshman Julia Cooper (Fitchburg, MA) followed with a two-run double to centerfield, scoring Cahill and Mueller, resulting in the 5-2 final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  This afternoon's contest marked the first ever meeting between the two teams on softball field with the Falcons 0-1 all-time when taking on the Rams

-  Cooper led the way for the Falcons, going 1-of-1 with a double and two RBI

-  Cahill finished 1-for-1 with a run scored for the Green and Gold

-  Junior Mackenzie Leveille (Brooklyn, CT) suffered the setback, allowing five runs (4 earned) on seven hits and two K's in four innings of work

-  For the Rams, Stolzenbach batted 3-for-4 with two runs scored

-  Dial chipped in with one hit and two RBI

-  Dial picked up the victory for Columbia International, giving up two runs on four hits and seven strikeout in six innings pitched

UP NEXT:

- Fitchburg State returns to action on Thursday when they take on the Titans of IU-South Bend and the Trojans of Hannibal LaGrange at 4:45PM and 7:00PM.

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