MCLA loses 6-3 before beating Falcons 4-3

Courtesy of Fitchburg State athletics

FITCHBURG, Mass. (March 28, 2013) – The Fitchburg State softball team was in action this afternoon, spitting with MCLA in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader. The Falcons took game one 6-3 before falling, 4-3 in the second game

Fitchburg State 6, MCLA 3 (Game 1)

In the first game, Fitchburg State was paced offensively by junior Marissa Binnall (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) and freshman Hailey Thibault (Swansea, Mass./Joseph Case) who each drove in a pair of runs, while newcomer Tori Cyrus (Everett, Mass./Everett) added two singles and a stolen base. Offensively for MCLA, senior Kendra Hobbs (Haverhill, Mass./Whittier Tech) went 2-for-3 including a double and one RBI, while senior Megan Boyer (Clarksburg, Mass./Drury) finished with a pair of doubles, a run scored and one RBI.

The Falcons opened the scoring in the first inning as junior Ashley Forgues (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) and freshman Marissa Gemma (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) led off with back-t0-back base hits and come around to score on a two-out double by Binnall, while Thibault plated Binnall with single to left field for the 3-0 lead.

Fitchburg State upped its lead (4-0) in the following inning on a passed ball before adding two more runs in the third frame on  a passed ball and an RBI ground by Thibault to make the score 6-0. MCLA would break its scoring silence (6-1) in the bottom of the third stanza as Hobbs doubled to left center to bring home Boyer.

The Trailblazers register single runs in the fifth and sixth innings on a run scoring single off the bat of sophomore Angelica Perfido (Whatley, Mass./Frontier Regional)  and a double from Boyer to cut the lead to 6-3 going into final inning of play but sophomore pitcher Brittany Whiting (Sharon, Mass./Sharon) pitched a scoreless seventh inning to preserve the 6-3 victory for the Falcons.

In the circle, junior Kerry Alcott (Groton, Mass./Groton-Dunstable) earned the win for the Falcons, allowing three runs on ten hits and seven K's over six inning of work, while rookie pitcher Rachel Quackenbush (Hoosick Falls, N.Y./Hoosick Falls) took the loss for MCLA, giving up six runs (3 earned) on eight hits, while striking out ten in the complete game effort.

MCLA 4, Fitchburg State 3 (Game 2)

In the nightcap, MCLA rebounded, posting four runs on seven hits to hold off Fitchburg State, 4-3 to salvage the spilt.

Following a scoreless first frame, Fitchburg State took the lead in the second inning, scoring a pair of runs as junior Katelyn Fitzgerald (Fitchburg, Mass./Saint Bernards) brought home Binnall with an RBI bunt single and sophomore Colleen Flaherty (Stoughton, Mass./Stoughton) singled in classmate Amanda Whitelaw (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Central)for the 2-0 margin.

The Trailblazers rallied in the fourth inning, plating four runs on run scoring singles by freshman Abigail Lucas (Braintree, Mass./Braintree) and sophomore Amanda Meczywor (Adams, Mass./Hoosac Valley), a base-loaded walk by Hobbs and sacrifice fly from junior Samantha Barbarotta (Pittsfield, Mass./Taconic) to take a 4-2 lead after four innings of play.

 The Falcons cut the lead to just one (4-3) in the sixth inning as Fitzgerald was able to drop down a sacrifice bunt to score Binnall. The Green and Gold threatened in the seventh inning, with two outs Cyrus doubled down the right field line and Thibault singled to put runners on the corners, but MCLA hurler Rayelle Pierson (Pittsfield, Mass./St. Joe's Central) retired the next hitter to end the game.

 At the plate, Flaherty led Fitchburg State offensively, collecting a pair of hits and one RBI, while Fitzgerald chipped in with one hit and a pair of RBI. Lucas was solid for MCLA, going a perfect 2-for-2 at the dish with one RBI and a run scored, while Barbarotta, Hobbs and Meczywor posted one hit and an RBI.

 On the mound, Whiting suffered the setback, allowing four runs (1 earned) on seven hits and three strikeouts for the Falcons, while Pierson picked up the victory, yielding three earned runs on ten hits in the complete game effort.

 Fitchburg State (4-8, 1-1 MASCAC) returns to action on Wednesday as it hosts Mitchell College for a double header starting at 3 p.m. MCLA (5-11, 1-1 MASCAC) will host Bay Path College on Monday for a double header starting at 3:30 p.m.