Falcons Drop Two On Day Three

Fall 17-6 to OWU in opener; Drop 9-1 decision to Coast Guard in night cap

Clermont, Fla. – The Fitchburg State University softball team dropped a pair of games on day three of its annual spring trip to Florida today as the Falcons dropped a 17-6 decision to Ohio-Wesleyan in the opener before suffering a tough 9-1 setback to Coast Guard in game two

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 6, Ohio-Wesleyan 17 (Game One)

Records: Fitchburg State (1-4) | Ohio-Wesleyan (1-2)

Score: Fitchburg State 9, Coast Guard 1 (Game Two)

Records: Fitchburg State (1-5) | Coast Guard (5-1)

How It Happened

Ohio-Wesleyan took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third as senior Erin Ferguson (Greenwich, Conn.) connected on an RBI single to center field before sophomore Kennedy Sattler (Oregon, Ohio) added a two-run single later in the frame.

Fitchburg State cut into the deficit in the bottom half of the third when junior Maddie Medina (Pelham, N.H.) singled home sophomore Mikayla Harnois (Attleboro, Mass.), while junior Melissa DiPhilippo (Norfolk, Mass.) blasted a double to center that plated Medina to make the score 3-2.

Trailing 9-2 going into the bottom of the fourth, the Falcons answered again (9-5) as junior Hayley McCarthy (Lawrence, Mass.) doubled in freshman Cammi Sperling (Rutland, Mass.) before junior Michelle LeBlanc (Ashburnham, Mass.) and Medina notched run scoring singles. The Green and Gold tacked on one more run in the bottom of the sixth when LeBlanc tripled to center and came around to score on a base hit off the bat of Medina, resulting in the 17-6 final.

In game two, Coast Guard grabbed a 4-0 advantage in the bottom of the second as sophomores Carly Hattman (Egg Harbor, N.J.) and Courtney McKenna (Sparta, N.J.) connected on run scoring singles, while senior Emma Hvozdovich (Palm Harbor, Fla.) added a two-run base knock.

Fitchburg State broke its scoring silence in the top of the fourth when sophomore McKenzie Lambert (Wilbraham, Mass.) single through the left side and crossed the plate on a double from junior Nicole Sylvester (Everett, Mass.) to make the score 4-1. But the Bears secured the victory in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs, resulting in the 9-1 final.

Inside the Numbers

In the opener, Fitchburg State was led by Medina, who hit 3-for-4 with one run scored and three RBI, while LeBlanc finished 2-for-2 with a triple, one run scored and an RBI.

In the circle, sophomore Mikayla Harnois (Attleboro, Mass.) took the loss for the Falcons, allowing six earned runs on nine hits with two K's in four innings of work.

In game two, Sperling finished 2-for-3 at the dish, while Sylvester added one hit, including a double and one RBI for the Green and Gold.

Freshman hurler Taylor Colvin (Lancaster, Mass.) made her collegiate debut in the circle for Fitchburg State, giving up three earned runs on 16 hits with four strikeouts in innings of work.

First ever meeting between the Fitchburg State and Ohio Wesleyan on the softball field.

Second meeting between the Fitchburg State and Coast Guard on the softball field with the Falcons 1-1-0 all-time when taking on the Bears.

Fitchburg State won the first ever match-up with Coast Guard, notching a 4-2 win on March 13, 2015.

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Thursday as it takes on the Owls of Keene State and the Rutgers-Newark Scarlet Raiders on day four of their annual spring trip to Florida, starting at 1:00 PM.