Falcons Drop Two to Owls in Season Opener

Falcons have 15 hits in Game One

Westfield, Mass. –  The Fitchburg State University baseball team dropped a pair of Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) contests to the Owls of Westfield State University, 11-10 in game one and 4-3 in the nightcap in season opening play for the Falcons.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 10, Westfield State 11 (Game One)
Score: Fitchburg State 3, Westfield State 4  (Game Two)
Records: Fitchburg State (0-2, 0-2 MASCAC) I Westfield State (7-1, 4-0 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Game One

After the Owls scored an unearned run in the top of the first, the Falcons answered with three runs in the bottom of the frame to grab an early 3-1 lead, senior Zachary May (Rochdale, Mass.) and Matthew Pingitore (Rutland, Mass.) each delivered RIB singles to centerfield.  Westfield clawed within 3-2 in the fourth on a Darby sacrifice fly, but the Falcons got after Owl starter Shane Bogli in the bottom half. 

Nicholas Cordeau (Melrose, Mass.) singled in a run to start a seven run outburst.  The key hit for the Falcons was a bases loaded single off the fence in right from May that brought home two more runs.  When the dust settled, the Falcons chased Bogli after four innings and led 10-2. 

The Owls would start their comeback with four runs in the fifth inning.  Nick Martin and Noah Florence started the scoring with RBI singles and Ethan Day followed suit to make it 10-5.  Another sac fly from Darby made it 10-6. 

Left handed Owl freshman Joe Fischer held the Falcons at bay in relief. and allowed Westfield to continue the comeback.  In the sixth, Westfield finally pulled even.  The Owls took advantage of a pair of Falcon miscues to get within 10-9.  Day would loft yet another sacrifice fly, this one scoring Brett Dooley to tie things up at 10-10. 

The Falcons had a chance to take a lead in the bottom half of the sixth inning.  With two outs and a runner on first, Fitchburg's Cameron Donahue (Methuen, Mass.)  ripped a double past a diving Casey Boudreau in right field.  Fitchburg's Johan Asencio (Clinton, Mass.) appeared likely to score, but pulled up rounding third base.  Donohue was then caught in a rundown and the Owls tagged him out at second to end the frame. 

In the seventh, Darby walked and was advanced to second on a bunt from Trey Faulkner.   After a strikeout, Boudreau came to the dish and ripped a single to left field scoring Darby to give the Owls an 11-10 lead.   

Westfield's Trevor Edwards came out of the bullpen for the bottom of the seventh.  After giving up a leadoff single, Edwards recorded three straight outs, including two strikeouts to earn the save.  

Game Two

The Owls grabbed a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the second inning on an RBI groundout from Ethan Day.  The Falcons would strike back and take a 2-1 lead after scoring twice in the bottom of the third.  Cordeau brought home a run with a fielder's choice and Zach May ripped a single to right field to give the Falcons a 2-1 edge thru three frames. 

Westfield would score three times off Falcon reliever Taryn Laramie (Franklin, NH) in the top of the fourth.  The Owls' Bryant Dana brought home a run on an infield single and when the throw got away, the Owls led 3-2.  Dana, who advanced all the way to third on the throwing error, would score on a wild pitch to make it 4-2. 

Fitchburg would inch closer with a solo run in the fourth on an RBI double from Johan Asencio to get within 4-3.  The Falcons would threaten again in the fifth after Owl starter Patrick Jordan walked a pair of batters.  Jordan would regroup however and induce an inning ending double play to keep the score at 4-3. 

Fitchburg wouldn't threaten over the final two frames as Westfield's Jordan and Trevor Edwards held them at bay to give Westfield the sweep. 

Inside the Numbers

• Westfield tallied 10 hits in the game led by Boudreau's 3-5 day.  He scored twice and drove in the game winner.  Florence and Zach Graveline ended with a pair of hits apiece. 
• Fischer (1-0) grabbed the win tossing two scoreless innings in relief of Bogli.  He allowed just one hit and struck out a pair.  Edwards recorded his fourth save of the season. 
• For the Falcons, Donahue was 3-4 with a run scored and RBI.  Cordeau, May, Pingitore, Jackson Vail (Grafton, Mass.) all tallied two hits.  Aidan Ward (Dunstable, Mass.) (0-1) absorbed the loss going 1 2/3 innings. 
• Jordan (1-0) tossed six innings and allowed just three hits to get the win.  He gave up three runs and worked around four walks.  He struck out three batters.  Edwards tossed a scoreless seventh for his fifth save of the season. 
• Fitchburg's Taryn Laramie absorbed the loss in game two.  He went three innings and allowed three runs in defeat.  He did strike out six Owls. 

Up Next

The teams will be back in action tomorrow for a non-league doubleheader. 

Portions of this release, photo, courtesy of Westfield State Sports Information Department