Softball Picks Up First MASCAC Win of the Season in Split With Fitchburg State

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The MCLA Softball team picked up their first conference win of the year today as part of their Senior Day Celebration doubleheader with Fitchburg State. The Trailblazers rallied back for a walk-off extra-inning win in the day's first game before seeing the Falcons come away with their own come-from-behind win in game number two.

THE BASICS:

• Date: Saturday, April 20, 2024
• Game #1: Fitchburg State 7, MCLA 8
• Game #2: Fitchburg State 5, MCLA 3
• Records: Fitchburg State Falcons 11-17 (MASCAC 5-5) | MCLA Trailblazers 8-21 (MASCAC 1-9)

SENIOR DAY

Before the first game, the Trailblazers recognized their graduating senior class as part of Senior Day. Maddy Teta, Sarah Williams, and Justina Pardi were honored by coaches, teammates, family members, and fans for their time with the softball program. Although their time with the program may end, they will forever be a part of the MCLA family.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Game #1
  • MCLA was the first one on the scoreboard, scoring one run on just one hit in the bottom of the first inning. Maddy Teta singled up the middle before stealing both second and third, finding herself at third base with only one out. Ella Staffier's grounder to third was then thrown wide, allowing her to reach and Teta to scamper home.
  • The Trailblazers added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Teta started the two-out rally with a single down the left-field line and then scored on Staffier's RBI double to left. Staffier then scored two batters later on Maggie Closinski's single through the left side of the infield.
  • Fitchburg pulled back to even with the hosts by scoring two runs in the top of the fourth and a single run in the top of the sixth.
  • The teams then put up matching three-run frames. For MCLA, the runs again came with two outs. First, it was Justina Pardi scoring from third on Hannah Mitchem's single through the left side, and then Kristie Zator and Mitchem each scored on Hailey Peabody's double into the right-center field gap.
  • The Falcons forced extra innings by responding with three runs of their own in the top of the seventh inning, scoring the three runs on four hits, before setting the Trailblazers down in order in the bottom of the frame.
  • In the top of the eighth, Fitchburg's Adria McKenzie came home on Molly Grass' single up the middle.
  • It was another two-out rally for MCLA that allowed the walk-off winner. Madyson Torres kicked things off with a double down the right field line before giving way to pinch runner Cinderella Khoury. Mitchem then brought Khoury home with the tying run with a single into left-center. Peabody then moved Mitchem into scoring position with a single through the left side of the infield. Setting up Teta for the game-winning RBI on a single back through the circle.
  • Sarah Williams went the distance for the Trailblazers, striking out three, to improve her record to 5-10. The loss went to the Falcons' Sarah Cahill, dropping her to 4-5.
• Game #2
  • MCLA put the first runs in the score column for the second time on the day. Peabody led off the first with a single through the left side and then came around to score on Teta's RBI double into the left-center alley.
  • MCLA stretched their advantage to 3-0 in the bottom of the third. Mitchem worked a one-out walk and moved to second two batters later when Teta walked. The speedy pair of outfielders then both scored when Fitchburg's right-fielder mishandled Staffier's offering.
  • The Falcons leveled the score with three runs on three hits in the top of the fourth inning and added an insurance run in both the fifth and sixth innings.
  • Fitchburg starter Madison Solt picked up a complete game win, allowing three runs, one earned in seven innings, to up her record to 5-3. Hailey Peabody took the loss for the Trailblazers to fall to 0-2.

UP NEXT:

On Sunday, MCLA will be back in action when they travel to New England College for a non-conference matchup with the Pilgrims at Old Concord Road Field. The first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

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