Trailblazers Earn First MASCAC Win in Split With Falcons

Fitchburg State University (10-8, 3-3 MASCAC) settled for a split against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (8-7, 1-3 MASCAC) n a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) baseball doubleheader on Sunday at St. Bernard's Holman Field. The Falcons held on for a 4-3 victory in the opening game, and then fell in extra-innings to the Trailblazers, 3-1 in the nightcap.

April 12, 2015

(Courtesy of Fitchburg State Sports Information)

FITCHBURG, Mass. - Fitchburg State University (10-8, 3-3 MASCAC) settled for a split against Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (8-7, 1-3 MASCAC) n a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) baseball doubleheader on Sunday at St. Bernard's Holman Field. The Falcons held on for a 4-3 victory in the opening game, and then fell in extra-innings to the Trailblazers, 3-1 in the nightcap.

Fitchburg State tallied their first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning when Roel Fernandez hit an RBI single up the middle that score Mike St. John from third base.

The Green & Gold would add to their lead in the bottom of the third when Steven Drury Jr. hit a two-run homer to right center, then Clayton Beaulieu plated home Brendan Cutler on a sacrifice fly to right field to give the hosts a 4-1 advantage.

MCLA scored three runs in the top of the seventh, but the comeback attempt fell short when Rory Slattery grounded out to the pitcher Javier Lozada to strand the tying and potential winning runs on base.

Connor Collett earned the win on the mound tossing six innings with two strikeouts and two earned runs. Lozada picked up his fifth save of the season.

Robert Jutras suffered the loss for the Trailblazers going five innings, while Todd Hunt threw one inning of relief in the setback.

MCLA took an early 1-0 lead as Tyler Benoit reached on an error by the second baseman that scored Nate Alibozek from third base. The Falcons answered in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice bunt by Beaulieu that advanced Louis Ortiz to third, then proceeded to score on an error on the throw to third.

Both starting pitchers settled into a groove following the early runs with neither team able to push across the go-ahead run.

The Trailblazers would finally break the deadlock in the top of the ninth as the bases became loaded with one out and Billy Pulasky singled to third base to score Slattery for the go-ahead run. MCLA tacked on an additional run on a sacrifice fly by Alon Willing to right field that plated home Slayter Aubin.

Fernandez led off the bottom half of the ninth with a double to left center, and then Pierce Hanssingled to shortstop that advanced Fernandez to third with the tying run on base. Llam Nolanpreceded to strikeout Donald Geloso and B. Cutler, and then got Ortiz to groundout to third base to silence a Falcon comeback.

Nik Powers threw seven innings in the no-decision with two strikeouts while yielding just three hits, while Tommy Parsons suffered the loss with one earned run and one walk.

Ryan Grande threw six innings for MCLA in the no-decision with three strikeouts, while Nolan was credited with the win in three innings of relief with five strikeouts.

Fitchburg State will be back in conference action on Tuesday, April 14 as they host Sterling Cup rival Worcester State. MCLA will travel to Westfield State the same day, with first pitch scheduled for 2:00pm.