Baseball holds off Fitchburg State 7-5
Ryan Ruef tossed five solid innings to lift the MCLA Baseball team past Fitchburg State
North Adams, MA- The MCLA Baseball team used a six run second inning and held off the visiting Fitchburg State University Falcons 7-5 this afternoon in MASCAC action at Joe Wolfe Field. The Trailblazers (9-18) are now 3-9 in the conference. The Falcons (19-7) dip to 9-3 overall in the league. The Falcons did take the season series from MCLA 2-1.
MCLA scored six times in the second inning as they took advantage of some defensive miscues by the Falcons. Dillon Maxon started the scoring with a run scoring double to center field scoring Jake Ferrara for a 1-0 lead. MCLA would tack on five more runs, all unearned. Austin Rachiele hit what appeared to be an inning ending out with the bases loaded, however the throw got away at first base and all three runners came home to make it 4-0. Christian Seariac then drove home two more runs with a single to center to increase the lead to 6-0 after two innings of play.
MCLA added another run in the fourth inning on Rachiele's sacrifice fly to increase the lead to 7-0.
Fitchburg finally got on the board and chased MCLA starter Ryan Ruef in the sixth inning. Brendan Ferrell singled home Nick Cordeau for the Falcons first run of the frame. Another run came home on a sacrifice fly from Joshua Macomber to cut the deficit to 7-2 and when Matt Pingatore was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded it was 7-3. MCLA reliever Tyler Wade induced a groundout to avoid further damage and maintain a 7-3 lead for the Trailblazers.
The Falcons didn't go quietly scoring twice in the ninth and threatening to tie the game. Ferrell singled home two runs and the Falcons had first and second, still without an out. MCLA's Maxon got a key strikeout and then consecutive groundouts to earn the save and MCLA escaped with the win.
MCLA's Ruef earned the win going 5+ innings to improve to 1-2 on the season. He gave up five hits and three earned runs. Maxon ended the day going 3-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Seariac and Ferrara each had a pair of hits to lead the offense.
Brendan Ferrell collected three hits for the Falcons, while Cordeau added two. Adam Somers (2-1) went all eight innings, allowing seven runs, but just two earned.
MCLA begins a three game series with Worcester State tomorrow on the road. The Falcons begin a conference series by hosting Salem State tomorrow. Both games are slated for 3:30pm.