Fitchburg State Swings Past Amherst, 12-3

Falcons close out 2010 spring trip with convincing non-conference victory

MELBOURNE, Fla. (March 18, 2010) – The Fitchburg State baseball team concluded its 2010 spring trip this afternoon, defeating Amherst College, 12-3 at Chain of Lakes Park.

ERIC O'REILLY

Sophomore Michal Mercier (Townsend, Mass./Saint Bernards) earned the victory on the hill for the Falcons (1-1) as he scattered nine hits and three runs through five innings of work. Junior Steve Donah (Agawam, Mass./Agawam) worked four scoreless innings of relief, notching four strikeouts and yielding only one hit.

Newcomers Eric O’Reilly (Gardner, Mass./Gardner) and Cody Bamforth (Vernon, Conn./Rockville) paced the Fitchburg State offense, combining for seven RBI and five hits. O’Reilly registered a 2-for-5 day, driving in four with two runs scored and a double, while Bamforth finished 3-for-4 overall with a run scored and three RBI.

Fitchburg State opened the contest with all the runs it would need as it touched for six runs on six hits and two errors in the first frame. Junior Eric DiMauro (Foxboro, Mass./Foxboro) put the Falcons on the board first as he laced an RBI single back up the middle, while O’Reilly gave Fitchburg State an early cushion with a bases-loaded, clearing double.

The Falcons continued their hitting display in the bottom of the second frame, grabbing an eight run margin (9-10 with three runs on three hits and one error. Bamforth and junior Ricky Graham (Walpole, Mass./Walpole) led the rally with a pair of RBI singles, while O’Reilly added his fourth RBI of the contest.

Fitchburg State kept the Amherst bats at bay for much of the contest, allowing only single runs in the first, fourth and fifth innings. Junior pitcher Jeff Keenan (West Hartford, Conn./Conard) suffered the loss for the Lord Jeffs, giving up ten hits and nine runs (two earned) through six innings of work.

Fitchburg State (4-5, 0-0 MASCAC) returns to action on Tuesday as it travels to Anna Maria College at 3:30 p.m. Amherst (4-2, 0-0 NESCAC) will battle Endicott tomorrow in a doubleheader starting at 9:30 a.m.

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Fitchburg State 12, Amherst 3