Falcons Earn Split On Day Four At Myrtle Beach

Moreau, Kirkconnell and Sousa lead Falcons to first win of 2023 

Myrtle Beach, S.C. – The Fitchburg State University softball team split a pair of games this morning at the Fast Pitch Dreams Classic. The Falcons registered a 10-9, eight inning victory over the Mustangs of Stevenson University in game one before dropping an 8-0 decision to the Lions of TCNJ in the night cap

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 10, Stevenson 9 (8 Inn) (GM1)

Records: Fitchburg State (1-6, 0-0 MASCAC) I Stevenson (2-1, 0-0 MACC)

Score: Fitchburg State 0, TCNJ 8 (GM2)

Records: Fitchburg State (1-7, 0-0 MASCAC) I TCNJ (2-0, 0-0 NJAC)

How It Happened

Game One

Trailing 1-0 , Fitchburg State plated eight runs in the bottom of the second inning as freshman Adria Styes (Lowell, Mass.), junior Lauren Kirkconnell (Dayville, Conn.), senior Madison Mantegani (Bellingham, Mass.) and sophomore Ella Marshall (Gloucester, Mass.) connected on RBI base hits, while sophomore Isabella Sousa (Charlton, Mass.) added a bases clearing, three-run triple for the 8-1 advantage.

Stevenson answered in the top half of the fourth frame when graduate student Marissa Heuer (Severna Park, Md.) blasted a solo shot to left field in addition to plating a pair of runs on two miscues to make the score 8-4.

The Mustangs pushed across two runs in the sixth and seventh innings on RBI's from junior Maddie Bosley (Bel Air, Md.), sophomore Rebecca Henry (Burlington, N.J.) and Heuer to knot the score at 8-8 to force extra innings.

With a runner placed on second base, Stevenson scratched across a run in the top of the eighth following a sacrifice bunt from junior McKenzie Tobler (Philadelphia, Penn.) and a throwing miscue, but the Falcons responded in their half of the eighth when sophomore Kiara Bigeau (Clinton, Mass.) ripped an RBI double to left field to bring home classmate Julia Gauvin (Granby, Mass.) before Kirkconnell delivered a clutch RBI fielders' choice to score Bigeau, resulting in the 10-9 victory.

Inside the Numbers

• Second meeting between the Falcons and the Mustangs with Fitchburg State 1-1 all-time when taking on Stevenson
• Kirkconnell finished 1-for-4 with two RBI for the Falcons
• Sousa added a triple, one run scored and three RBI for the Green and Gold
• Junior Mary Kate Moreau (Berkley, Mass.) earned the win for Fitchburg State, yielding nine runs (four earned) on 11 hits with two strikeouts in the complete game effort
• Head coach Dick Hurley picked up his coaching victory at the helm of Fitchburg State

Game Two

TCNJ took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first frame as junior Julia Mayernik (Columbus, N.J.) singled up the middle to bring in graduate student Camryn Davies (Chatham, N.Y.) before the Lions double their lead (2-0) in the bottom of the third with Mayernik registering a sacrifice fly.

TCNJ extended the advantage to 5-0 in the bottom half of the fourth on RBI base knocks from senior Kaci Neveling (Egg Harbor, N.J.), senior Alexis Rizzo (Sewell, N.J.) and Mayernik. The Lions secured the victory in the bottom of fifth with junior Reina Jeronimo (Roselle Park, N.J.) lacing a two-run double through the left side, resulting in the 8-0 final.

Inside the Numbers

• First ever meeting between the Falcons and the Lions with Fitchburg State 0-1 all-time when taking on TCNJ
• Junior Allison Pogorek (Millbury, Mass.) and freshman Kata DiRusso (Medford, Mass.) had one hit each for the Falcons
• Freshman Madison Solt (Salem, N.H.) allowed three runs on five hits with two K's in 1.1 innings of relief for Fitchburg State

Up Next

Falcons return to action tomorrow when they take on the Redstorm of Rio Grande University and the Mounties of Mount Aloysius College at 9:00AM and 3:00PM on the final day of the Fast Pitch Dreams Classic.