Fitchburg State Falls Twice At Framingham State

Rams post 15-3 victory in game one; complete sweep with 4-2 victory in game two

FRAMINGHAM, Mass. (April 21, 2012) – The Fitchburg State softball team suffered a MASCAC doubleheader loss to Framingham State University this afternoon as the Rams downed the Falcons 15-3 in game one and 4-2 in the nightcap.

Framingham State 15, Fitchburg State 3 (Game 1)

The Falcons jumped out to a 1-0 lead as they plated an unearned run in their first at bat of the day.  Sophomore Marissa Binnall (Fitchburg, Mass.) struck out, but reached on an error by the Rams catcher.  Binnall advanced to third on a passed ball and a groundout before scoring the game's first run on a wild pitch.

The game would remain 1-0 in favor of the visitors until the bottom the third inning when the Rams took the lead for good.  Sophomore Molly McKinnon (Framingham, Mass.) drove in a run with an RBI single and junior Yaya Faria (Acton, Mass.) plated two on a double to center.  Senior Alysia Morrissette (Ware, Mass.) followed with an RBI single giving the Rams a 4-1 lead.

The Rams would add 11 more runs in the bottom of the fourth off relief pitcher Alycia McGrail (N. Brookfield, Mass.) to secure the five inning victory.  Senior Alyssa Shea (Lakeville, Mass.), junior Taylor Ezold (Westfield, Mass.) and sophomore Kyle Fortin (Candia, NH) each drove in a run with RBI doubles and McKinnon plated two with a double down the left field line.  In her second at bat in the inning, Ezold drove in another run with a single to right.

Fitchburg State tacked on two runs in the fifth off an RBI single from Binnall and a sacrifice fly from freshman Victoria Brinkley (Durham, Conn.) to reach the final margin.

Faria recorded the complete game victory in the circle for the Rams allowing three runs, one earned, on three hits with a walk and eight strikeouts, while senior Allison Cousins (Leominster, Mass.) picked up the loss for the Falcons allowing four earned runs on nine hits in three innings of work.

Ezold and McKinnon each went 3-for-3 at the plate in game one with McKinnon driving in three and Ezold two.  Faria also picked up a pair of hits and drove in a pair of runs.

Framingham State 4, Fitchburg State 2 (Game 2)

In game two, the Falcons once again took a 1-0 lead in their first at bat with an unearned run.  Binnall reached on an error and eventually scored on a pass ball.

The Rams tied the game in the second with an unearned run of their own.  Freshman Tiffany Agostini (Rehoboth, Mass.) singled and moved to third on a double from sophomore Kate Corriveault (Blackstone, Mass.).  Agostini scored when Morrissette reached on an error in the Falcon infield tying the game at 1-1.

The Rams took the lead for good in the fourth inning with a pair of runs.  Corriveault drove in Agostini with her triple and eventually came around to score on a pass ball.

The Falcons would get one back in the top of the fifth to pull within one (3-2).  McGrail singled and stole second with no outs.  After moving to third on an out, McGrail came around to score on an RBI groundout off the bat of Brinkley.

The Rams answered with a run in the bottom of the inning on an Agostini sacrifice fly to push the lead back to two as Morrissette allowed just one base runner to the Falcons in the final two innings to secure the victory.

Morrissette improved her season record to 8-9 with the win going seven innings and allowing two runs, one earned, on seven hits with no walks and four strikeouts.  Freshman Brittany Whiting (Sharon, Mass.) picked up the loss surrendering four runs, one earned, on eight hits with seven strikeouts.

Ezold, Shea, Agostini and Corriveault had two hits apiece in game two for the Rams, while McGrail and Brinkley had two hits each for the Falcons.

Fitchburg State (13-21 4-6 MASCAC) will be in action again on Tuesday as it travels to Worcester State University at 2 p.m. Framingham State (15-19, 4-6 MASCAC) will host Salem State on Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.