Falcons Soar To Sweep Over Trailblazers In MASCAC Action

Sousa and Kirkconnell lift Green and Gold to pair of conference wins

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University softball team registered a sweep over the Trailblazers of MCLA this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from the Donna Lee Withington Softball Field by the scores of 10-1 and 10-2.

 The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 10, MCLA 1 (GM1)

Score: Fitchburg State 10, MCLA 2 (GM 2)

Records: Fitchburg State (14-21, 6-6 MASCAC) I MCLA (7-25. 1-11 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Game One

Fitchburg State opened the scoring in the bottom of the second as junior Lauren Kirkconnell (Dayville, Conn.) and sophomore Isabella Sousa (Charlton, Mass.) singled before senior Sarah Cahill (Mansfield, Mass.) ripped a two run single up the middle before senior Dana Cisowski (Torrington, Conn.) followed with an RBI single that scored Cahill for the 3-0 edge.

MCLA responded in the top of the third when freshman Maggie Closinski (Rome, N.Y.) singled on a bunt, stole second and crossed the plate on a fielding miscue to make the score 3-1.The Falcons pushed the lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the third with Kirkconnell plating sophomore Kiara Bigeau (Clinton, Mass.), while sophomore Hannah Pelletier (Swansea, Mass.) connected on an RBI single to left that scored Kirkconnel and Mantegani brought in Sousa with run scoring fielders' choice

The Green and Gold secured the victory in the bottom of the fourth when Kirkconnell and Sousa notched RBI base knocks to score senior Molly Grass (Rockland, Mass.) and Kirkconnell, while Cahill added a sacrifice fly, resulting in the 10-1 final

Inside the Numbers

• Sousa paced the Falcons, hitting a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, three runs scored and an RBI
• Cahill finished 1-for-3 with a double, one run scored and three RBI
• Cahill collected the win for Fitchburg State, allowing one unearned run on three hits and seven K's in the complete game effort
• For the Trailblazers, sophomore Madyson Torres (Dripping Springs, Tex.) went
• Sophomore Lidia Flores (Menifee, Calif,) suffered the setback for MCLA, giving up six runs (5 earned) on eight hits and one strikeout over three innings pitched

Game Two

Fitchburg State grabbed a 3-0 edge in the opening frame as senior Madison Mantegani (Bellingham, Mass.) singled, Cisowski and Grass walked to load the bases, while Bigeau plated Mantegani and Cisowski with a groundout and throwing miscue before Kirkconnell added an RBI goundou, scoring Grass.

The Falcons secured the victory in the bottom of the fourth, plating seven runs on four hits with Cisowksi notching a two-run double, while Gauvin, Grass and Sousa followed with RBI base knocks, to make the score 10-0.

MCLA would reduce the deficit to 10-2 in the top of the fifth when freshman Cinderella Khoury (Waltham, Mass.) and classmate Hailey Peabody (West Springfield, Mass.) drew back-to-back walks before Flores laced a two-run double to center field, but Falcon hurler Mary Kate Moreau (Berkley, Mass.) induced a game ending flyout to center as the Green and Gold took game two, 10-2.

Inside the Numbers

• 90th meeting between Fitchburg State and MCLA on the softball field with the Falcons 55-35 all-time when taking on the Trailblazers
• Grass paced the Falcons, hitting 2-for-2 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI
• Sousa finished 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI
• Moreau notched the win for Fitchburg State, yielding two runs on five hits and two K's over five innings pitched
• For the Trailblazers, Flores went a perfect 3-for-3 with a double and two RBI
• Junior Sarah Williams (Stephentown, N.Y.) took the loss for MCLA, allowing eight runs (6 earned) on seven hits and striking out three in 3.2 innings of work

Up Next

Falcons return to action next Saturday as they host the Rams of Framingham State for a MASCAC double header, starting at 12:00PM.