Baseball Takes Opener 4-3 over Colby-Sawyer Before Falling in Game Two

Auburndale, Fla. – The Framingham State University baseball team received five RBI from sophomore Jordan Pallazola (Rockport, Mass.) as the Rams split a non-conference doubleheader with Colby-Sawyer at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.  The Rams took the opener 4-3 before falling 8-5 in the nightcap.

With the split, the Rams are now 2-3 on the young season, while the Chargers are now 2-2 on the year.

The Rams took the early lead in game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning.  They loaded the bases and Pallazola delivered a two RBI single to left.  The Rams reloaded the bases with one out, but a double play ball ended the inning.

The Chargers got a run back in the top of the second inning as Connor Henry (East Boston, Mass.) crossed the plate on the back end of a double steal. 

The Rams pushed the lead back in the bottom of the third. Junior Kyle Pileski (Bristol, Conn.) singled and moved to third on a double from Pallazola.  Cameron Borelli (Peabody, Mass.) followed with a sacrifice fly plating Pileski.

Colby-Sawyer loaded the bases in the top off the fourth with two outs and Jackson Musco (Litchfield, NH) delivered a two run single to right tying the game at 3-3.

The Rams answered in the bottom of the inning with what proved to be the game winning run.  Junior Matt Brockett (Guilford, Conn.) singled and then scored from first on a single to right off the bat of Ryan Wardwell (Hudson, Mass.).

The Chargers had a chance in the bottom of the seventh with a runner on second and one out, but Brockett made a diving catch on a liner to second and doubled up the runner to end the first game.

Kevin Connelly earned the win on the mound going five innings and allowing three runs, all earned, on six hits with five strikeouts. Mike Andrews (Stoneham, Mass.) tossed an inning of scoreless relief, while Chris Riga (Westfield, Mass.) earned his second save of the year tossing a scoreless seventh.

In game two the Rams once again took the lead in their first at bat of the game.  Pallazola doubled home a pair of runs and Borrelli drove in Pallazola with a single down the leftfield line.

The Chargers got on in the bottom of the first when Musco scored from third on the throw to first after a dropped third strike.

Manny Powers (Malden, Mass.) pushed the lead back to three in the top of the second with an RBI, but Colby-Sawyer scored three in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 4-4.

The Chargers took the lead for good in the bottom of the third on an RBI ground out from Austin Butler.  Colby-Sawyer added three more in the bottom of the fifth to extend the lead to 8-4.

Pallazola, who went 4-for-7 with five RBI in the doubleheader, homered in the top of the seventh for the Rams final run of the game.

Alex Erwin took the loss in game two going four innings and allowing six runs, four earned, on seven hits.

The Rams are back in action tomorrow afternoon when they face Rowan at 3:45 p.m.