Vikings Claim 2021 MASCAC Baseball Championship, Piroh Named MVP

Fitchburg, Mass. – Salem State claimed the 2021 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) baseball title, sweeping the Fitchburg State Falcons, 10-6, 10-5 on Friday afternoon at Riccards Field. Led by Zach Piroh's (Bridgeport, Conn.) game one home run, the senior senior slugger compiled three hits on the day to take home MVP honors, helping the Vikings claim their first championship since 2016.  

Game One

Salem State grabbed the lead in the top of the second as Piroh launched his third home run of the season over the right field fence for the 1-0 advantage. Fitchburg State threatened in their half of the frame with senior Johan Asencio (Clinton, Mass.) doubling to right center, while junior Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.) and sophomore Jaime Velez (Lowell, Mass.) adding singles, but Viking hurler Jack Sefrino (Dartmouth, Mass.) got out of the jam unscathed.

The Falcons took the lead in the bottom half of the fifth when Velez drew a lead-off walk, moved to second on a fielding miscue and scored on an RBI ground out off the bat of senior Zachary May (Rochdale, Mass.) before classmate Matthew Pingitore (Rutland, Mass.) singled home fellow senior Nicholas Cordeau (Melrose, Mass.) for the 2-1 edge.

The Vikings regained the lead in the top of the sixth as sophomore Jake Boucher (Cheshire, Conn.) plated junior Christian Burt (Lynn, Mass.) with a sac fly, while senior Tim Catalano (Brewster, N.Y.) followed with a two-run single to make the score 5-2.

The Green and Gold cut the deficit to 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth with Asencio lacing a double to right center and crossed the plate on a double to left field by Velez. Salem State answered back in the following stanza when senior Traverse Briana (Lynn, Mass.) connected on a three-run home run to center for an 8-3 advantage.

Fitchburg State trimmed the lead to 8-4 on an RBI ground out by graduate student Jackson Vail (Grafton, Mass.), but the Vikings extended their lead (10-4) in the eighth as Boucher bringing in senior Brahlam Ortega (Lawrence, Mass.) with a base hit through the left side.

With the score 10-4 going into the bottom of the ninth, the Falcons would score a pair of runs on a fielding miscue. That's as close the host would get however as sophomore Brock Pare (Lowell, Mass.) got the final two outs, resulting in the 10-6 final.

By The Numbers

· Asencio led the way for the Falcons, going 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored

· Briana finished 2-for-5 for the Vikings, including a home run, two runs scored and three RBI

· Senior Richard Sharpe (Townsend, Mass.) took the loss for Fitchburg State, allowing five runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings of work

· Sefrino collected the win for Salem State, yielding six runs (three earned) on 15 hits with two K's in 8.1 innings pitched

Game Two

The Vikings raced out to an early 4-0 lead in the top of the second when newcomer Jomar Moreta (Lynn, Mass.) doubled down the right field line to score Ortega and senior Shawn Rebello (Bellingham, Mass.), while Boucher added a run scoring single that plated Moreta.

The Falcons responded in their half of the second as Vail singled through the left side, moved to second on a walk from sophomore Brad Keefe (Dracut, Mass.) and crossed the plate on a Vail single to make the score 4-1.

Fitchburg State cut the deficit to 4-2 in the next frame with May connecting on his team-leading fourth home run of the season over the left center field fence. The Green and Gold knotted the game at 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth. Junior Brendan Ferrell (Plymouth, Mass.) walked, advanced to second and third on a May single and hit by pitch before senior Cameron Donahue (Methuen, Mass.) ripped a two-run single up the middle to bring home Ferrell and May.

Salem State took the lead back in the sixth as Burt tripled to right field that scored Moreta, while Boucher singled to third to plate Burt and Catalano added a sacrifice fly for the 7-4 margin. The visitors secured the victory, tacking on a pair of insurance runs in the ninth on a two-run double from Moreta.

Fitchburg State would strike for the final run of the game in the bottom of the ninth when May blasted his second home run of the contest with a solo shot to straight away center field, resulting in the 10-5 final.

By The Numbers

· 107th meeting between the two teams with the Falcons 22-85 vs the Vikings

· May paved the way for Fitchburg State's offense, batting 3-for-4 with two home runs, three runs scored and two RBI

· For Salem State, Moreta, went 3-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and five RBI

· Senior Aidan Ward (Dunstable, Mass.) suffered the setback for the Falcons, giving up three runs (1 earned) on four hits and three strikeouts over 3.1 innings pitched

· Senior Matthew Enos (Beverly, Mass.) picked up the win for the Vikings, pitching 4.1 innings of relief, allowing just one run on one hit with one K

· Piroh from Salem State was named the 2021 MASCAC Baseball Tournament MVP

· Fifth MASCAC post-season tournament title and seventh overall baseball championship for the Vikings of Salem State

Salem State (12-8) awaits their opponent in the upcoming NCAA Regional. The Falcons conclude their season with an overall record of 11-12.  

(Contributions from Fitchburg State Sports Information)