Falcons Sweep Vikings In MASCAC Action

Savone blasts first collegiate home run to lead Green and Gold

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University softball team swept a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) double header with the Vikings of Salem State University this afternoon at the Donna Lee Withington Memorial Softball Field by the scores of 4-0 and 5-3.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 4, Salem State 0 (Game One)
Records: Fitchburg State (3-4, 2-1 MASCAC) I Salem State (2-3, 2-1 MASCAC)
Score: Fitchburg State 5, Salem State 3 (Game Two)
Records: Fitchburg State (4-4, 3-1 MASCAC) I Salem State (2-4. 2-2 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Game One

Fitchburg State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning when junior Morgan Cormier (Leominster, Mass.) laced a single through the left side, stole second and came around to cross the plate on an RBI double off the bat of senior Taylor Colvin (Lancaster, Mass.).

The Falcons extended their advantage (3-0) in bottom half of the fourth with sophomore Molly Grass (Rockland, Mass.) drawing a bases loaded walk to bring in Cormer before classmate Julianna Savone (Palm Coast, Fla.) connected on a run scoring single that scored Colvin.

The Green and Gold capped the scoring in the bottom of the fifth when newcomer Dana Cisowski (Torrington, Conn.) blasted a double into left field as Grass crossed the plate, resulting in the 4-0, game one final.

Game Two

In the second game on the day, Salem State opened the scoring in the top of the first when Hogan reached on a fielder's choice, moved to second and third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI ground from senior Mikayla Porcaro (Amesbury, Mass.) for the 1-0 edge.

Fitchburg State responded in their half of the first as Grass reached on a fielding miscue before Savone proceeded to launch her first collegiate home run over the left field fence to give the hosts a 2-1 margin.

The Green and Gold upped their lead (3-1) in the following frame with junior Hayley O'Brien (Lynnfield, Mass.) singled through the left side to lead off the inning, advanced to second and third on back-to-back singles from Cormier and senior Keeliey Zompetti (Hudson, Mass.) before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Grass.

The Falcons would make the score 4-1 in the bottom of the third as junior Audrey Johnson (Fitchburg, Mass.) connected on a solo home run to left center. The Vikings cut the deficit to 4-2 in the top of the fourth when sophomore Rebecca Walker (Lynn, Mass.) singled up the middle, moved to second on a base hit off the bat of Chiasson and crossed the plate following a fielding miscue.

Salem State trimmed the lead to 5-3 in the fifth stanza with Porcaro driving a double into the right center field gab and coming around to score on an RBI ground out by freshman Mackenzie DeSantis (Ridge, N.Y.), but that's as close as the visitors would get as Colvin closed the door in the top of the seventh en-route to her first collegiate save, resulting in the 5-3 game two final.

Inside the Numbers

• 85th meeting between the two teams in softball with the Falcons 37-47 vs the Vikings
• Cormier led the way for the Falcons in the opener, going 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and pair of runs scored
• Senior Sydney Chiasson (Hudson, Mass.) paced the Vikings, finishing 1-for-4 with a stolen base
• Colvin picked up the win for Fitchburg State in game one, giving up just four hits with seven strikeouts in the game shutout
• Sophomore Gracie Hogan (Newton, N.H.) took the loss for Salem State, allowing three runs on six hits and five K's in three innings of work
• Savone paved the way for Fitchburg State in the night cap, finishing 2-for-4, including her first collegiate home run as well as one run scored and three RBI
• For Salem State, Porcaro hit 1-for-4 with a double, one run scored and one RBI
• Sophomore Sarah Cahill (Mansfield, Mass.) earned the win for the Green and Gold, giving up three runs (2 earned) on five hits and one strikeout over five innings of work
• Freshman Emily Carter (Warwick, R.I.) suffer the setback for the Vikings, yielding five runs (3 earned) on eight hits with three punch outs in four innings pitched

Up Next

Both teams return to action tomorrow as the Falcons visit Salem State for a non-conference twin-billing, starting at 12:00 PM.