Baseball Drops Pair To Buccaneers In Conference Twin Bill

Buzzards Bay, MA: The Fitchburg State baseball team dropped a pair of Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) contests to the Buccaneers of Mass. Maritime Academy this afternoon from Hendy Field as the Falcons were edgd 10-7 in the opener before falling 12-0 in the nightcap.

THE BASICS:

- Date: 4/7/24

- Score: Fitchburg State 7, Mass. Maritime 10 15 inn (GM1)
- Score: Fitchburg State 0, Mass. Maritime 12 (GM2)

- Records: Fitchburg State (6-16, 1-5 MASCAC), Mass. Maritime (10-11, 3-3 MASCAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game One

-  Mass Maritime opened the scoring in the top of the third as sophomore Michael Longiudice (Bridgewater, MA) reached on a throwing miscue, moved to second and third on a sacrifice and a single off the bat of junior Aidan Weir (Wallingford, CT) and scored on a wild pitch for the 1-0 edge.

- Fitchburg State answered in their half of the third when junior Cole DuHaime (Warminster, PA) singled to shortstop, stole second and scored on a single to right field by classmate Matthew Smith (Flanders, NJ) before junior Jacob Hurrell (Haverhill, MA) ripped a run scoring triple to right field that drove in Smith to make the score 2-1.

- The Falcons pushed the lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth with freshman Luke Sterner (Stafford, VA) singled to third, advanced to third on double down the left field line by sophomore Joseph Abt (Newbury, MA) and scored on a groundout from junior Liam Goldstein (Charlestown, RI), while DuHaime added an RBI down the left field line.

- The Buccaneer knotted the score at 5-5 in the top of the fifth as senior Tucker Leslie (Mashpee, MA), classmate Brett Velzis (Cypress, TX) and junior Micheal Estrada (Covington, LA) collected RBI's in the frame. Mass Maritime regained the lead in the top of the sixth with Velis singling up the middle to bring in junior Jake Houston (Bellingham, MA) for the 6-5 advantage. The Green and Gold took the lead back in the bottom of the sixth when Goldstein was hit by a pitch, moved to third on a triple from DuHaime, while junior Nolan Hills (Danvers, MA) laced a two-run double to left field that scored DuHaime and Goldstein to make the score 7-6.

- Mass Maritime retied the contest at 7-7 in the top of the seventh with Estrada singling through the right side and eventually crossing the plate on an RBI single up the middle by senior Max Hefner (Jacksonville, FL). The Buccaneers secured the victory in the top of the 15th when Houston, Estrada and freshman Damon White (Buzzards Bay, MA) notched RBI's, resulting in the 10-7, game one triumph.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  DuHaime paced the Falcons, going 3-for-6 with two doubles, three runs scored and an RBI

-  Hills finished 1-for-1 with a double and two RBI

-  Sophomore Sy Sullivan (Tigard, OR) suffered the setback for Fitchburg State, allowing three runs (2 earned) on five hits with six K's and three walks over 5.2 innings of work

-  For the Buccaneers, Velzis went 4-for-7 with two RBI

-  Estrada hit 3-of-8 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI

-  Junior Brenden Baiardi (Harwinton, CT) picked up the victory for Mass Maritime, allowing four hits with five strikeouts in 7.1 innings pitched.

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game Two

-  Mass Maritime grabbed a 4-0 advantage in the top of fourth as Estrada reached on a fielders' choice to drive in Hefner before Estrada crossed the plate on a fielding miscue and senior Tucker Leslie (Mashpee, MA) followed with a base loaded walked that scored Longiudice.  

- The Buccaneer upped the lead to 12-0 in thentop of the fifth as Logidice registered an RBI single to right field before White added a bases-loaded walk and junior Grady Freeman (Worcester, MA) followed with a two-run double down the left field line,

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  This afternoon's contest marked the 87th ever meeting between Fitchburg State and Mass. Maritime with the Falcons 34-53 all-time when taking on the Buccaneers

-  Goldstein paced the Falcons, going 1-for-3 with a stolen base

-  Freshman Shane Daly (Rockland, MA) suffered the setback for Fitchburg State, giving up nine runs (8 earned) on seven hits with one K and three walks over 4.1 innings pitched

-  For the Buccaneers, Velzis went 2-for-4 with a double, one run scored and three RBI

-  Estrada chipped in with two hits as well as two runs scored and one RBI

-  Junior Hunter Dean (Plymouth, MA) collected the win for Mass Maritime, allowing just one hit with ten strikeouts and two walks in the complete game effort

UP NEXT:

- Fitchburg State returns to action on Friday as they travel to Bridgewater State to take on the Bears in MASCAC action, starting at 3:30 PM.

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