Nolan, Rumbolt lead Baseball to split with Framingham in MASCAC opener

Westfield, MA- Liam Nolan's complete game shutout and Logan Rumbolt's clutch hit lifted the Trailblazers to a 2-0 win over Framingham State in the MASCAC opener for both teams.  The Rams earned a split by taking game two in convincing fashion as they defeated MCLA 10-5.

The Trailblazers are now 7-6 overall and 1-1 in league play.  The Rams are 8-9 overall and also sit at 1-1 in the MASCAC.

Game One:

Nolan was outstanding in improving to 2-0 on the season in the opener.  He scattered four hits and struck out seven Ram hitters to collect the win. 

Over the first five innings, neither offense could muster anything up as the starting pitchers were cruising.  Framingham's Mike Andrews had allowed just one hit entering the sixth inning while Nolan was matching for MCLA.  The Trailblazers finally broke the ice in the sixth inning.

Nick DiSanti and Ben Durland began the inning with back to back singles and then were sacrificed up a base by Christian Seariac.  Rumbolt would follow with a two run double just inside the third base bag scoring both runners for a 2-0 advantage.   Andrews would avoid further damage, but MCLA took the lead into the seventh.

Nolan sent the Rams down in order to preserve the win for the Trailblazers.  Both teams registered just four hits in the contest.   Rumbolt led the offense with a pair of hits.

Andrews was the tough luck loser going the distance and striking out four Trailblazers.  Jordan Pallazola had two of the Rams' four hits.

Game Two:

The Ram offense came out swinging scoring a pair of runs in each of the first two innings off Trailblazer starter Bobby New.  Pallazola started the scoring with an RBI double off the fence in left for an early 1-0 lead.  Anthony Venuti followed with an RBI groundout to make it 2-0 after one inning.

FSU added two more in the second frame on an unearned run and Aaron Williams' sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.  Williams would rip an RBI single in the fourth to increase the lead to 5-0 and eventually chase New from the game.

The Trailblazers would get a run in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double off the bat of Bill Pulasky, but the Rams would answer and put the game away with two runs in the fifth and sixth innings to secure the win.

MCLA scored twice in the sixth, but left a pair of runners on base against Ram starter Kyle Hodgson.

Hodgson earned the win to improve to 2-2 on the season.  He struck out seven Trailblazers in going the distance.

Williams went 3-4 in the nightcap to pace the offense while Joe Ambrosino added a pair of hits.  The Rams outhit MCLA 10-8 in the contest.

The Trailblazers were paced by Rumbolt who was a perfect 4-4 in game two.  Pulasky added three hits and 2 RBI in the loss.  New suffered his first loss of the season in dropping to 2-1.