Softball Collects MASCAC Split With Trailblazers

Gauvin notches 100th career hit for Green and Gold

North Adams, MA: The Fitchburg State Softball Team split a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) twin bill with the Trailblazers of MCLA this afternoon from the Alcombright Field as the Falcons dropped the opener 8-7 before collecting a 5-3 victory in the night cap.

THE BASICS:

- Date: 4//20/24

- Score: Fitchburg State 7, MCLA 8 (8inn) (GM1)

- Score: Fitchburg State 5, MCLA 3 (GM2)

- Records: Fitchburg State (11-17, 5-5 MASCAC), MCLA (7-22, 1-9 MASCAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game One

-  MCLA took a 1-0 edge in the bottom of the first as senior Maddy Teta (Troy, NY) singled up the middle and stole second and third before crossing the plate on a throwing miscue. The Trailblazers upped the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double off the bat of sophomore Ella Staffier (Marshfield, MA) that scored Teta before sophomore Maggie Closinski (Rome, NY) singled through the left side to drive in Staffier for the 3-0 edge.

- Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 3-2 in the top of fourth with freshman Jessica Mueller (Fitchburg, MA) singling down the third base line to score senior Dana Cisowski (Torrington, CT) before junior Isabella Sousa (Charlton, MA) followed with an RBI double to right center to drive in Muelller.

- The Falcons knotted the score at 3-3 in the top of the sixth when Sousa reached on a fielding miscue that brought home Cisowski. MCLA regained the lead (6-3) in the bottom of the sixth as freshman Hannah Mitchem (Baltimore, MD) singled through the left side to bring in senior Justina Pardi (Niskayuna, NY) before sophomore Hailey Peabody (West Springfield, MA) added a two-run double to right center.

- The Green and Gold retied the contest (6-6) in the top of the seventh with Mueller lacing a two-run double to center field, while Sousa added a run scoring single up the middle before Fitchburg State grabbed a 7-6 edge in the top of the eighth as Grass collected an Rbi single up the middle to knock in sophomore Adria McKenzie (Lowell, MA). MCLA walked off the contest in the bottom of the eighth with Mitchem and Teta notching RBI singles, resulting in the 8-7 final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

-  Cisowoski led the way for the Falcons, going 3-of-4 with a double and three runs scored

-  Mueller finished 2-for-4 with a double, one run scored and three RBI

-  Senior Sarah Cahill (Mansfield, MA) took the loss for Fitchburg State, allowing eight runs (7 earned) on 15 hits with three K's over 7.2 innings of 2 work

-  For the Trailblazers, Peabody hit 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI

-  Teta chipped in with three hits, two stolen bases, two runs scored and an RBI

-  Senior Sarah Williams (Stephentown, NY) earned the win for MCLA, giving up seven runs (6 earned) on 12 hits with three strikeouts in the complete game effort

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game Two

-  MCLA grabbed a 1-0 edge in the bottom of the first as Teta doubled to left center to plate Peabody. The Trailblazers doubled the lead (2-0) in the bottom of the third when Staffier reached on a fielding miscue to bring in Mitchem.

- Fitchburg State responded in the top of the fourth when freshman Julia Cooper (Lumberton, NJ) singled up the middle, moved to third on single through the right side by Cisowski and scored on wild pitch before Cisowski crossed the plate on a wild pitch. Senior Julia Gauvin (Granby, MA) followed with an RBI single to left center to drive in Mueller for the 3-2 edge.

-  The Falcons upped the lead to 4-2 in the top of the fifth with junior Sydney Gabay (Bohemia, NY) singling up the middle, while pinch runner Maggie Bourgeois (Fitchburg, MA) stole second before Bourgeois crossed the plate on a wild pitch. The Green and Gold secured the victory in the top of the sixth as Mueller singled down the third base line, advanced to second on  single off the bat of Sousa and scored on a throwing miscue, resulting in the 5-3, game two final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  This afternoon's contest marked the 92nd meeting between the two teams on softball field with the Falcons 56-36 all-time when taking on the Trailblazers

-  Cooper led the way for the Falcons, going 2-for-4 with a run scored

-  Sousa added two hits for the Green and Gold

-  Sophomore Madison Solt (Salem, NH) collected the win for Fitchburg State, giving up three runs (1 earned) on six hits as well as two K's and two walks in the complete game effort

-  For the Trailblazers, Peabody finished 2-for-4 with a run scored

- Teta chipped in with a double, one run scored and an RBI

-  Peabody took the loss for MCLA, yielding four runs (3 earned) on six hits with one strikeout and two walks over four innings of relief

UP NEXT:

- Fitchburg State returns to action on Tuesday as they travel to Western New England to take on the Golden Bears in a non-conference twin bill, starting at 3:00 PM.

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