Falcons And Rams Split Non-Conference Twin-Billing

Velez leads the way for Green and Gold in non-conference split

Framingham, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University Baseball team split a pair of non-conference contests with the Rams of Framingham State University this afternoon from Bowditch Field as the Falcons took game one by the score of 7-4, while the Rams bounced back with a 9-8 come from behind win in game two in ten innings.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 7, Framingham State 4 (Game One)

Score: Fitchburg State 8, Framingham State 9 (Game Two) (Ten Innings)

Records: Fitchburg State (5-8), Framingham State (8-11)

How It Happened

Game One

Fitchburg State grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the first with senior Zachary May (Rochdale, Mass.) driving in sophomore Brad Keefe (Dracut, Mass.) with a single through the right side before fellow senior Cameron Donahue (Methuen, Mass.) blasted a double to left field that plated May and classmate Matthew Pingitore (Rutland, Mass.)

The Falcons upped their margin in the top half of the third when senior Johan Asencio (Clinton, Mass.) doubled to left field that scored fellow senior Cameron Donahue (Methuen, Mass.) to make the score 4-0. The visitors extended the lead (7-0) in the fifth frame as sophomore Jaime Velez (Lowell, Mass.) blasted a two-run double to right, while senior Nicholas Cordeau (Melrose, Mass.) added an RBI single.

Framingham State cut the deficit to 7-4 in the bottom of the fifth as freshman Chris Iannetta (Watertown, Mass.) stole home before newcomer Ryan Boyle (Arlington, Mass.), junior Andrew Caufield (Malden, Mass.) and sophomore Nick Simonenko (Hudson, Mass.) all notched run scoring base hits.

That's as close as the Rams would get however as the duo of junior Matthew Ambrosino (Bradenton, Fla.) and Donahue scattered one hit over the final 2.1 innings of relief.

By The Numbers

• Donahue paced the Falcons, going 2-for-3 with a double, one run scored and two RBI
• Freshman Cam Gilroy (Salisbury, Mass.) finished 2-of-3 with a double, triple and one run scored for the Rams
• Senior Alec Hanney (Leominster, Mass.) collected the win for Fitchburg State, giving up four runs (1 earned) on six hits with one K over 4.2 innings of work
• Senior Jack DeCoste (East Sandwich, Mass.) took the loss for Framingham State, allowing four runs on five hits and a pair of strikeouts over three innings pitched

How it Happened

Game Two

The Falcons opened the scoring in the top of the second innings when Asencio came across the plate off a fielding miscue before Velez followed with two run single to right field that scored junior Vincent Eramo (Shirley, Mass.) and sophomore Anthony Silverio (Fitchburg, Mass.) for the 3-0 margin.

The Rams responded in the bottom of the fifth, scoring five runs in the frame with senior Bobby Higgins (Barnstable, Mass) providing the big hit for the host, launching a three-run homer over the right field fence to take a 5-3 advantage

Fitchburg State tied the contest at 5-5 in the following stanza with Sliverio scoring off a wild pitch before Velez singled through the right side to bring home Eramo.  The Green and Gold would regain the lead in the top of the tenth as graduate student Jackson Vail (Grafton, Mass.) singled to left to bring home Eramo and two more Falcons came home off a throwing miscue to take an 8-5 edge.

The back and forth contest continued however with the Rams rallying in their half of the tenth as Iannetta registered an RBI single through the left side and Caufield was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.. Trailing by one with two outs, Higgins delivered in the clutch as he proceeded to connected a two-run double to right field, resulting in the 9-8, game two walk-off win for Framingham State..

By The Numbers

• 89th meeting between the two teams with the Falcons 42-47 vs the Rams
• Velez led the way for Fitchburg State, batting 2-for-6 with three RBI
• Higgins batted 2-for-5 with five RBI, one run scored, a home run and double
• Sophomore Adam Kirsch (New London, Conn.) took the loss for the Falcons, allowing four runs on four hits with one K in 2.2 innings of relief
• Freshman Erik Zine (Wareham, Mass.) collected his first collegiate win for the Rams

Up Next

Falcons will host the Lancers of Worcester State University on Friday for a MASCAC double header, starting at 1:00 PM. Rams return to action on Friday as well as they host the Vikings of Salem State for a conference twin billing with a 2:00 PM first pitch.