FITCHBURG, MA: The Fitchburg State baseball team went into extra innings during its first game in two weeks. Salem State opened up the MASCAC schedule for the Falcons, defeating them 13-12 in ten innings.

THE BASICS:

- Date: 3/28/25

- Score: Salem 13, Fitchburg 12

- Records: Salem (4-7, 1-0 MASCAC), Fitchburg (4-7, 0-1 MASCAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED:

-  The Falcons struck first in the bottom of the second, going up 1-0 on a Cole DuHaime (Warminster, PA) double down the left field line.

- The Falcons would hold the 1-0 lead into the fourth inning. The Vikings would knot it up at one on an RBI single by Ryan Bourgeois. Salem would later add on, giving themselves their first lead in the top of the fifth on back-to-back singles by Brayden Michaelson, followed by Ethan Supplettis, making it a 3-1 game.  

- The Viking lead wouldn't last long, however, as Adam Koza (Windham, NH) would deliver a two-run single to center field that would tie the game back up at three.

- The Sixth inning would see Salem go back up, this time by three. Connor Dolan started the inning off with a blast to left field for his first home run of the season. After a passed ball, Michaelson would deliver again, driving in the third and final run of the inning on a double to left center field.

- The Falcons would respond in the bottom half of the sixth with three runs of their own. The first two batters would reach base via errors by the right side of the Vikings' defense. The second error would bring in the first run of the inning for the Falcons. Joseph Abt (Newbury, MA) would then bring in the next one on a single to center field. Koza would follow him up by staying hot and hitting another RBI single; this time, it was through the left side of the infield.

- After holding the Vikings scoreless in the top of the seventh, the Falcons would regain the lead in the bottom half after a Matthew Kelly (E. Bridgewater, MA) double to right field that would bring in one to make it a 7-6 game.

- Salem would get that run back and go back on top in the eighth. The first run of the inning would come across on a balk call by the home plate umpire. The next would score on a groundout to short, making it an 8-7 Viking lead.

- The bottom half of the eighth saw DuHaime hit another double that was identical to the one he hit in the second inning, but this time it would bring in two runs for the Falcons, giving them the lead back 9-8. Maxwell Kelly (E. Bridgewater, MA) would then add on one more on a sacrifice fly to center field, putting Fitchburg up two with a 10-8 score.

- The scoring continued in the ninth for both teams. Starting in the top of the ninth, the Vikings would get multiple runners on via the hit by pitch. They would then come around to score on a Jake Boucher single through the right side, which would plate two, bringing it to 10-10. Owen Duggan would bring in another on a fielder's choice, giving them the lead back. Nolan Currier would put the Vikings up two on a sac fly to right field, making it at 12-10 game going into the bottom of the ninth.

- The Falcons would get the job done in the bottom half of the inning to force extras. Abt would bring in the first run, making it 11-12 on a double to right center field. The tying run eventually came across on a wild pitch to make it a 12-12 game.

- The tenth inning would see Salem go up 13-12 and hold the lead to end the game. The final run was brought in by Dolan on a single to right field.  

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

-  Demetrius Sampalis (N. Scituate, RI) would be tagged with the loss (1-1) after surrendering five runs in 1.2 innings worth of work.

-  Boucher would get the win (2-1) after 2 innings with 2 hits, 2 runs, and 2 strikeouts.

-  Hits: Salem 16, Fitchburg 14

UP NEXT:

- Fitchburg State baseball will return on Friday against Salem State to continue the three-game series. The Falcons will travel to Salem for a 12:30 and 2:30 PM doubleheader.

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