Falcons Collect Non-Conference Split With Raiders

Moreau and Grass guide Green and Gold to game two triumph over Raiders

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University softball team split a non-conference twin bill with the Raiders of Rivier University this afternoon from the Donna Lee Withington Softball Field as the Falcons dropped the opener 7-1 before registering a 6-4 triumph in the nightcap.

 The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 1, Rivier 7 (GM1)

Score: Fitchburg State 6, Rivier 4 (GM 2)

Records: Fitchburg State (12-21, 4-6 MASCAC) I Rivier (15-21, 4-6 GNAC)

How It Happened

Game One

Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the bottom of the first as senior Madison Mantegani (Bellingham, Mass.) singled, moved to second and third on fielders' choice and flyout before sophomore Julia Gauvin (Granby, Mass.) drove in Mantegani with a sacrifice fly to left for the 1-0 edge.

Rivier took the lead in the top of the fourth when freshman Kayla Caetano (New Bedford, Mass.) launched a grand slam left center that scored newcomer Kyleigh Guerette (Merrimack, N.H.) classmate Avry Nelson (Methuen, Mass.) and sophomore Josie Maggiore (North Hampton, N.H.) to make the score 4-1.

The Raiders upped the lead to 5-1 in the top of the fifth with freshman Olivia Couto (Fairhaven, Mass.) tripled down the right field line and crossed the plate on the throwing miscue. Rivier pushed the advantage to 6-1 in the following frame as Caetano connected on a solo shot to left.

Rivier extended the margin to 7-1 in the top of the seventh Nelson singled, advanced to second and third on a ground out and error before Caetano plated Nelson with an RBI single through the left side.

Inside the Numbers

• Gauvin paced the Falcons, going 2-for-3 with two doubles
• Sophomore Dana Cisowski (Torrington, Conn.) finished 2-for-3 with a double for the Green and Gold
• Freshman Madison Solt (Salem, N.H.) allowed one hit in one inning of relief in a no decision for Fitchburg State
• For the Raiders, Caetano hit 3-for-5 with two home runs, six RBI and two runs scored
• Graduate student Sydney Greeno (Shirley, Mass.) collected the win for Rivier, giving up one unearned run on eight hits and four K's in the complete game effort

Game Two

Rivier grabbed a 1-0 edge in the top of the first as Caetano notched a solo shot down the left field line. Fitchburg State responded in the bottom of the frame when Cisowski single, moved to second on a base knock from senior Molly Grass (Rockland, Mass.) before Gauvin laced an RBI double to left center, while sophomores Isabella Sousa (Charlton, Mass.) and Kiara Bigeau (Clinton, Mass.) added RBI hits for the 3-1 margin.

The Falcons upped the lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth when sophomore Sydney Gabay (Bohemia, N.Y.) walked, pinch runner Lauren Kirkconnell (Dayville, Conn.) moved to second on single from Mantegani, while Grass followed with a two-run single to right, scoring Mantegani and Kirkconnell.

 The Green and Gold pushed across another run in the following stanza with Bigeau singling to third and crossing the plate on a throwing miscue to make the score 6-1. The Raiders answered in the top of the sixth when junior Kayla Miles (Londonderry, N.H.) blasted a solo home run to left field, cutting the lead to 6-2. The visitors would respond again in their final at bat as Miles registered an RBI double to left, scoring Couto before Nelson followed with a run scoring single to left that scored Miles, but Falcon hurler Mary Kate Moreau (Berkley, Mass.) worked out of the jam as the Green and Gold, collected the 6-4, game two triumph.

Inside the Numbers

• 20th meeting between Fitchburg State and Rivier on the softball field with the Falcons 16-4 all-time when taking on the Raiders
• Grass paced the Falcons, hitting 2-of-4 with a run scored and two RBI
• Bigeau went 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI for the Green and Gold
• Moreau notched the win for Fitchburg State, yielding four runs on ten hits and one strikeout in the complete game effort
• For the Raiders, Miles hit 2-for-4 with a double, home run, two runs scored and two RBI
• Senior Nicole Verrette (Haverhill, Mass.) suffered the setback for Rivier, giving up six runs (5 earned) on ten hits and one K in five innings of work
• Sophomore Hannah Pelletier (Swansea, Mass.) notched her first collegiate hit for the Green and Gold

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Friday as they host the Trailblazers of MCLA for a MASCAC twin bill, starting at 3:00PM.