Softball Drops Double Header To Trailblazers In Conference Action

Mueller collects three hits for Green & Gold

North Adams, MA. – The Fitchburg State softball team dropped a pair of contests to the Trailblazers of MCLA this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action from Shewcraft Field by the scores of 8-0 and 12-7.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 0, MCLA 8 (GM1)
Score: Fitchburg State 7, MCLA 12 (GM2)
Records: Fitchburg State (3-13, 0-4 MASCAC) I MCLA (11-7, 2-0 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Game One

MCLA opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning as Paxton Ebling drew a bases loaded walk before Alexandra Espel followed with a two-run single up the middle for the 4-0 advantage. The Trailblazers pushed the lead to 6-0 in the following frame when Meggie Closkinski laced an RBI double to left center before Hannah Gilbert added a run scoring single to right field.

The hosts secured the victory in the bottom of the fifth with Hailey Peabody connecting on an RBI single through the left side, resulting in the 8-0 final.

By The Numbers

• Junior Jessica Mueller (Fitchburg, MA) paced the Falcons, going 1-for-2 with a double
• Junior Julia Cooper (Lumberton, NJ), sophomore Emily Bennett (Gorham, ME) and freshman Chloe Bafundo (Southington, CT) added one hit each for the Green and Gold
• Senior Madison Solt (Salem, NH) took the loss for Fitchburg State, allowing four runs (3 earned).

Game Two

Fitchburg State jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage in the top of the third as sophomore Ariana Baez (Meuthe, .MA) singled to right center to bring in Bafundo before classmate Paige Konopka (Middlefield, CT) followed with a two0run single through the right side that plated Mueller and freshman Kiley Connors (Newington, CT).

MCLA answered in the bottom of the third with Gilbert registering a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Nevaeh Lopez to make the score 3-1. The Falcons pushed the lead to 4-1 in the top of the fourth when Mueller singled through the left side, scoring Bennett.

The Green and Gold upped the margin to 6-1 in the top of the fifth as Bennett singled to right center, scoring newcomer Amaya Carrion (E. Longmedow, MA) and Konopka. The Trailblazers grabbed the lead in the bottom of the fifth with Ebling, Amelia Leasure and Espel notching RBI knocks for the 7-6 edge.

Fitchburg State knotted the contest at 7-7 in the top of the sixth when Baez registered an RBI double to right center, scoring Mueller. The hosts secured the victory in the bottom of the sixth though as Espel, Hannha Mitchen and Peabody collected RBI's, resulting in the 12-7 final.

By The Numbers

• Baez led the way for the Falcons, going 2-for-4 with two RBI
• Konopka finished 1-for-2 with a run scored and two RBI
• Freshman Alison Hazel (Winchendon, MA) allowed six runs (5 earned) on seven hits and one K over four innings of work in the no decision for Fitchburg State

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Tuesday as they travel to Westfield State to take on the Owls for a MASCAC twin bill, starting at 3:00PM.

STAY CONNECTED:

- For the latest on Fitchburg State University Athletics, follow the Falcons via social media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.