Falcons Split Non-Conference Twin Billing With Bears

Keefe picks up first collegiate save for Green and Gold

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University Baseball team split a non-conference double header with the Bears of Bridgewater State University this afternoon at Riccards Field as the Falcons notched a 3-1 triumph in the opener before the Bears rallied for a 5-3 victory in the night cap.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 3, Bridgewater State 1 (Game One)

Score: Fitchburg State 3, Bridgewater State 5 (Game Two)

Records: Fitchburg State (11-10), Bridgewater State (11-18)

How It Happened

Game One

Bridgewater State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth as graduate student Colin Josselyn (Hanson, Mass.) singled, moved to second on a base hit off the bat of freshman Joey Molis (Cumberland, R.I.) and eventually scored on a groundout by newcomer Joe Frechett (Plymouth, Mass.).

Fitchburg State answered in their half of the fourth with junior Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.) and senior Cameron Donahue (Methuen, Mass.) collected back-to-back hits before senior Benjamin Zoebisch (Plymouth, Mass.) singled to center to bring home Eramo and sophomore Jaime Velez (Lowell, Mass.) added an RBI double for the 2-1 edge.

The Falcons added an insurance run in the bottom half of the sixth when Donahue reached first base on a dropped third strike, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored as Zoebisch laced a single up the middle to make the score 3-1.

By The Numbers

• Zoebisch led the way for the Falcons, going 2-for-2 with a pair of RBI
• Frechette finished with an RBI for the Bears, while Josselyn hit 1-for-2 with a run scored
• Senior Aidan Ward (Dunstable, Mass.) collected the win for Fitchburg State, allowing one run on three hits with a season-best seven K's over five innings pitched
• Sophomore Brad Keefe (Dracut, Mass.) pitched two scoreless innings of relief to pick up his first collegiate save in the win
• Junior Matt Josselyn (Hanson, Mass.) took the loss for Bridgewater State, giving up three runs (2 earned) on eight hits with a season best eight strikeouts in six innings of work

How it Happened

Game Two

The Bears opened the scoring in the top of the first with senior Luke Tamulevich (Whitman, Mass.) singled to left field, stole second and crossed the plate on an RBI double from freshman Cam James (Ipswich, Mass.) for the 1-0 lead.

The Falcons grabbed the lead in the bottom of the first when junior Brendan Ferrell (Plymouth, Mass.) reached on a single to second base, stole second and scored on an RBI base hit off the bat of senior Matthew Pingitore (Rutland, Mass.), while classmate Johan Asencio (Clinton, Mass.) would add an RBI groundout later in the frame that plated Zachary May (Rochdale, Mass.) for 2-1 margin.

Fitchburg State upped its advantage in the fifth stanza as senior Nicholas Cordeau (Melrose, Mass.) reached on a throwing miscue, stole second base and crossed the plate on an RBI single to left center from Ferrell to make the score 3-1.

The Bears regained the lead in the top of the sixth, plating four runs on six hits. Josselyn singled home James, while newcomer Kevin Lindsay (East Bridgewater, Mass.) followed with two-run base knock and classmate Mathew Pigeon (Canton, Mass.) added a single down the right field line that brought home Lindsay to push the score to 5-3 in favor of the visitors.

By The Numbers

• 93rd meeting between the two teams with the Falcons 30-63 vs the Bears
• May and Ferrell combined for four hits two runs scored and one RBI for Fitchburg State
• For Bridgewater State, Lindsay batted 2-for-3 with one run scored and a pair of RBI
• Senior Alec Hanney (Leominster, Mass.) suffered the setback for the Falcons, yielding four runs on six hits with one strikeout over 1.1 innings of relief
• Freshman Ethan Grade (South Windsor, Conn.) earned the win for the Bears after pitching 1.2 innings of scoreless relief
• Newcomer Jay Wladkowski (Norwood, Mass.) registered his first collegiate save for Bridgewater State

Up Next

Falcons conclude its 2021 regular season and await it's seeding into the upcoming MASCAC Baseball Championship Tournament. Bears finish their 2021 season this afternoon with an overall record of 11-18 and a 4-6 clip in conference play.