Baseball Swept By Lancers In Conference Twin Bill

Worcester MA: The Fitchburg State Baseball team dropped a pair of Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) contests to the Lancers of Worcester State this afternoon from Kevin Lyons Diamond as the Falcons fell 16-3 in the opener before being edge, 7-6 in the nightcap.

THE BASICS:

- Date: 4/23/24

- Score: Fitchburg State 3, Worcester State 16 (GM1)
- Score: Fitchburg State 6, Worcester State 7 (8 Inn) (GM2)

- Records: Fitchburg State (10-22, 5-10 MASCAC), Worcester State (8-20, 7-8 MASCAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game One

-  Worcester State opened the scoring in the bottom of the first frame as senior Frankie Hernandez (Framingham MA) blasted a two-run homer for the 2-0 edge. Fitchburg State knotted the score at 2-2 in the top of the second when junior Cole DuHaime (Warminster, PA) drove in sophomore Nolan Hills (Danvers, MA) with an RBI groundout before senior Maxwell Kelly (E. Bridgewater, MA) singled to third to plate junior Matthew Smith (Flanders, NJ).

- The Lancers regained the lead in their half of the second with freshman Jeremy DeLacruz (Lowell, MA) scoring junior Michael Cooper (Fitchburg, MA) with an RBI base knock, while senior Gavin Wells (North Attleboro, MA) scored on a passed ball and Ryan Jewett added a sacrifice fly to make the core 5-2.

- Worcester State extended the lead to 9-2 in the bottom of the fourth with Hernandez bringing in DeLacruz with bases loaded hit by pitch and sophomore Nathan Thurber (Framingham, MA) plating junior Tyler Smith (Leominster, MA) with a sacrifice fly.

- The Lancers pushed the lead to 12-2 in the bottom of the fifth when Thurber laced a three-run triple that plated Hernandez, Smith and junior Anthony Iamarone (Providence, RI). The Falcons answered back in the top of the sixth with Hills launching a solo shot. Worcester State secured the victory in bottom of the sixth as Iamarone collected a two-run double down the leftfield line, resulting in the 16-3 final.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  Hills paced the Falcons, going 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and an RBI

-  Smith added a double and one run scored for the Green and Gold

-  Junior Jovanni Merced (Springfield, MA) allowed seven runs (3 earned) on five hits with three K's over 2.1 innings of relief in a no decision for Fitchburg State

-  For the Lancers, Thurber finished 2-of-5 with a triple and five RBI

-  Hernandez chipped in with two hits, including a home run, four runs scored and three RBI

-  Senior Danny DiMassimo (Pittsfield, MA) collected the win for Worcester State, giving up three runs on nine hits and seven strikeouts in the complete game effort

HOW IT HAPPENED: Game Two

-  Fitchburg State grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when junior Jacob Hurrell (Haverhill, MA) was hit by a pitch, stole second and third and scored on an RBI single off the bat of Hills.  

- The Falcons doubled the lead in the top of the fourth as Kelly was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a single from DuHaime and crossed the plate on a throwing miscue. Worcester State responded in the bottom of the fifth with Smith and Jewett notching RBI base hits, while Hernandez added a grand slam for the 6-2 advantage.

- The Green and Gold answered back in the top of the sixth when sophomore Maxwell Riordan (Pepperell, MA) brought home Kelly with an RBI single, while senior Devin Lorae (Canton, GA) followed with an RBI double that plated Riordan to cut the deficit to 6-5. Fitchburg State retied the contest (6-6) in the top of the seventh with Hurrell singling up the middle, moved to second on a groundout, stole third and crossed the plate on a passed ball.

- Worcester State secured the victory in the bottom of the eighth when Delacruz doubled to left center and came across to score the winning run on an RBI single from Jewett, resulting in the 7-6, game two victory.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  This afternoon's contest marked the 102nd meeting between Fitchburg State and Worcester State on the baseball diamond with the Falcons 39-63 all-time when taking on the Lancers

-  Hurrell led the way for the Falcons, hitting 3-for-4 with two runs scored and three stolen bases

-  DuHaime added a pair of hits and one run scored for the Green and Gold

-  Sophomore Sy Sullivan (Tigard, OR) took the loss for Fitchburg State, yielding one run on four hits with two strikeouts over three innings of work

-  For the Lancers, Hernandez finished 1-of-4 with a home run, four RBI and one run scored

-  Jewett chipped in with two hits, one run scored and two RBI

-  Sophomore Zachary Scotti (Warwick, RI) picked up the win for Worcester State, surrendering one run on two hits and three K's over two innings pitched

UP NEXT:

- Fitchburg State returns to action on Friday as they host the Owls of Westfield State for a MASCAC tilt, starting at 3:00PM

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