Sousa & Dillon lead Green & Gold to game two triumph

Fitchburg, MA. – The Fitchburg State University Softball team salvaged a split with the Trailblazers of MCLA in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action this afternoon from the Donna Lee Withington Memorial Softball Field as the Falcons dropped a 10-6 decision in the opener before collecting an 8-5 triumph in the nightcap on senior day as the Fitchburg State Softball team honored four seniors playing in their final regular season for their contributions to the program with the seniors being #14 Ella Marshall, #17 Mackenzie Leveille, #19 Isabella Sousa and #25 Sydney Gabay.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 6, MCLA 10 (GM1)
Score: Fitchburg State 8, MCLA 5 (GM2)

Records: Fitchburg State (5-24, 3-5 MASCAC) I MCLA (12-12, 5-3 MASCAC)

How It Happened

Game One

MCLA took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first as junior Hailey Peabody (West Springfield, MA) singled to center field to drive in classmate Ella Staffer (Marshfield, MA) and senior Madison Teta (Troy, NY) before Peabody crossed the plate on an RBI double to left center off the bat of junior Maggie Closinski (Rome, NY).

The Trailblazers upped the advantage to 6-0 in following frame with Peabody reaching on a fielding miscue that allowed sophomore Samantha Wheeler (Agawam, MA) and freshman Allee George (Bennington, VT) to cross the plate, while senior Madyson Torres (Dripping Springs, TX) added a sacrifice fly.

The visitors extended the lead to 8-0 in the top of the fifth when Peabody scored on a wild pitch and senior Ezmeralda Albright (Loves Park, IL) brought in junior Cinderella Khoury (Waltham, MA) with an RBI groundout.

Fitchburg State answered in the bottom of fifth with sophomore Danielle Forth (Templeton, MA) singling down the left field line, advancing to second on walk from senior Mackenzie Leveille (Brooklyn, CT) and eventually crossing the plate on a groundout from junior Adria McKenzie (Lowell, MA) to make the score 8-1.

The Falcons trimmed the deficit to 8-5 in the bottom of the sixth as senior Sydney Gabay (Bohemia, NY) singled to center field to bring in freshman Priscilla Dillon (Glenville, GA) and Forth reached on a fielding miscue that brought in senior Isabella Sousa (Charlton, MA) before senior Ella Marshall (Gloucester, MA) drove in Gabay and Forth with a two-run single to center field.

MCLA upped the lead to 10-5 in the top of the seventh with George drove in Albright and Closinski with a two-run triple to right center. The Green and Gold responded in the bottom of seventh when Dillon launched a solo shot to center field, resulting in the 10-6 final.

By The Numbers

• Konopka led the way for the Falcons, going a perfect 4-for-4
• Dillon finished 3-of-4 with a home run, two runs scored and one RBI
• Leveille took the loss for Fitchburg State, allowing ten runs (9  earned) on nine hits and seven K's in the complete game effort
• For the Trailblazers, Peabody went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBI
• Sophomore Juliana Johansen (Pittsfield, MA) earned the victory for MCLA, giving up six runs (3 earned) on 11 hits and four strikeout over seven innings of work

Game Two

Fitchburg State grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the first when freshman Emily Bennett (Gorham, ME) singled down the left field line, stole second and crossed the plate on an RBI single to center field from classmate Carolyn Brodeur (Ashby, MA) before Sousa brought in Dillon with an RBI double down the right field line.

The Falcons extended the lead to 3-0 in the following frame with junior Shaelyn Burns (North Attleboro, MA) reaching on single up the middle, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored following a bunt single from newcomer Lauren Ahearn (Danvers, MA).

MCLA answered in the top of third as George singled to center field, advanced to second on a walk from Peabody and scored on an RBI single to center field from Torres to make the score 3-1.The Green and Gold pushed the margin to 4-1 in the bottom of third when Brodeur walked, advanced to second and third on a hit by Sousa and a fielders' choice before crossing the plate on a single through the left side by Forth.

The Trailblazers trimmed the lead to 4-3 in the top of the fourth as Wheeler singled to left field and came around to score on an RBI triple by Teta, while Teta scored on a wild pitch. Fitchburg State pushed across another run in their half of the fourth stanza with McKenzie reaching on fielders' choice and crossing the plate on a sacrifice bunt and throwing miscue for the 5-3 edge.

The visitors knotted the score at 5-5 in the top of fifth when Peabody walked, Albright doubled to left field, while sophomore Hannah Mitchem (Baltimore, MD) laced a two-run single to center field, scoring Peabody and Albright. Fitchburg State regained the advantage in the bottom of fifth with Ahearn driving in sophomore Jessica Mueller (Fitchburg, MA) with a sacrifice fly to center field for the 6-5 edge.

The Green and Gold tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth as Brodeur reached on a fielding miscue, advanced to third on a double by Dillon before Sousa laced a two-run double to right center, plating Brodeur and Dillon, resulting in the 8-5 final.

By The Numbers

• Sousa paced the Falcons, hitting 3-for-4 with two double and three RBI
• Dillon finished 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored
• Junior Madison Solt (Salem, NH) collected the for Fitchburg State, yielding five runs on eight hits and five strikeouts in the complete game effort
• For the Trailblazers, Mitchem went 1-of-2 with two RBI
• Peabody took the loss for MCLA, giving up eight runs (6 earned) on 15 hits over six innings pitched
• 94th meeting between the Falcons and Trailblazers on the softball field with Fitchburg State 57-37 all-time when taking on MCLA

Up Next

Falcons return to action on Monday as they host the Lancers of Worcester State for a conference doubleheader, starting at 12:00PM.

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