Gaines and Miner Both Pitch Well as Trailblazers Split

MCLA split the MASCAC season series with conference foe, Fitchburg State, losing game one, 2-1 before rebounding 6-0 in the nightcap at Riccards Field.  With the game knotted at 1-1, Fitchburg State rallied for one run in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure its first conference victory, 2-1.

Sophomore Pat McMahon (S. Windsor, Conn./S. Windsor) sparked the Falcons rally with a leadoff bunt, and later scored and junior Chris Rivera's (New Britain, Conn./New Britain) infield single with the bases loaded.

MCLA notched the game's first run in the top of the first inning as Rory Slattery (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic) scored on a Cody Weaver (Highland, N.Y./Highland) double to right field. The Falcons responded however, posting an unearned run in the bottom of the third to tie the score at 1-1. McMahon again ignited the Falcon rally with a leadoff bunt before coming around to score on a MCLA miscue.

Junior Tynan Flegg (Calgary, AB/National Sport Academy) earned the victory for Fitchburg State, tossing a complete game, five-hitter. Flegg yielded just one run over seven innings, while striking out three and walking zero. MCLA starter Ross Miner (Greenfield, Mass./Mohawk) suffered the loss for the Trailblazers, allowing just two unearned runs over his 6.1 IP (3 K's, 0 BB).

McMahon, Rivera and junior Mike Szajner (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) led the Falcon attack with two hits apiece, while Cody Bamforth (Vernon, Conn./Rockville) and Matt Zajac (New Hartford, Conn./Saint Paul Catholic) added a base-hit each. Freshman Chris Koch (Pittsfield, Mass./Greylock) was the lone Trailblazer with two hits in the contest. 

In the second game of the afternoon, MCLA took advantage of two Falcon errors in the second inning to post four runs and cruise to a 6-0 MASCAC victory.

The Trailblazers opened the contest in similar fashion, posting a single run in the top of the first inning, before breaking the game open with four runs in the second. Junior Joe Duncan (Dalton, Mass./Wahconah) connected with the big hit for MCLA with an RBI single in the hole, while Slattery added an RBI sacrifice fly in the second inning rally. The Trailblazers also took advantage of a pair of Falcon mishaps as all four runs were unearned.

In the fourth, MCLA tacked on a single run, increasing its lead to 6-0 on a sac fly from Koch. Senior starter Daniel Gaines (Holyoke, Mass./Holyoke) then settled in for the Trailblazers, holding Fitchburg State scoreless for the remainder of the contest.

Gaines picked up the victory for MCLA, tossing his first shutout of the season. The veteran southpaw scattered five hits in the complete game effort while posting six strikeouts and zero walks. Senior Perry Russo (East Hartford, Conn./East Hartford) took the loss for the Falcons, allowing six runs (two earned) over three innings of work.

Offensively, Duncan, Sean Coyle (Middleboro, Mass./Middleboro) and Chase Preite (North Adams, Mass./Drury) all collected two hits in the Trailblazers nine hit attack, while Koch chipped in with a 1-for-3 performance and two RBI. Junior Jeff Boice (Glastonbury, Conn./Glastonbury) was the lone Falcon with multiple hits.

Fitchburg State (5-16, 1-3 MASCAC) returns to action on Tuesday as it hosts Anna Maria at 3:30 p.m. MCLA (10-11, 2-2 MASCAC) will host Williams College on Monday at 4 p.m.