Baseball Drops a Pair of Extra-Inning Games to Cairn and Eastern Connecticut
Auburndale, Fla. – The Framingham State University baseball team dropped a pair of extra inning contests today at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational falling to Cairn 6-5 in 11 innings before Eastern Connecticut walked off with a 4-3 victory in 10 innings.
After the pair of losses, the Rams are now 5-5 on the season.
Cairn took advantage of pair of Framingham errors in the top of the first inning and took a 1-0 lead in an RBI single to left from Nathan Wilson. They extended their lead in the top of fifth on an RBI single from Aaron Takacs.
Cairn added another unearned run in the top of seventh as Jacob Allen stole after reaching base on an error putting Cairn ahead 3-0.
The Rams had a chance to get on the board in the bottom of the seventh when Jordan Pallazola (Rockport, Mass.) reached on an error and moved to third on a failed pickoff attempt. Kyle Pileski (Bristol, Conn.) followed with a fly ball to left, but Pallazola was called out for leaving third early negating a run and ending the inning.
The Rams got on the board in the bottom of the eighth inning. Kyle Dembrowski (Natick, Mass.) and Cole Josselyn (Hampton, NH) led off the inning with back to back singles. After a pair of outs, Dembrowski scored on a pop up that was dropped in the Cairn infield.
The Rams tied the game in the bottom of the ninth and forced extra innings. Pallazola walked with one out and lifted for a pinch runner. RC Goodman (Springfield, Mass.) stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error. Goodman came around to score on an RBI single from Pileski. Pileski stole second and scored on an RBI base hit from Josselyn knotting the game at 3-3.
After a scoreless 10th, Cairn pushed across three unearned runs in the top of the 11th to take a 6-3 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Manny Powers (Malden, Mass.) opened the inning with a ground rule double and pinch hitter Anthony Herman (Stratford, Conn.) walked. Powers and Herman advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Pileski delivered an RBI single to right driving in Powers and moving Herman to third. Herman came in with the final run of the game as he scored on a wild pitch as a fielder's choice ended the game.
Sophomore Alex Erwin (Tewksbury, Mass.) started for the Rams and did not factor in the decision going six innings and allowing two runs, one earned, on four hits with eight strikeouts and four walks. Junior Mike Andrews (Stoneham, Mass.) tossed four innings of relief allowing an unearned run on two hits with five strikeouts. Junior Chris Riga (Westfield, Mass.) took the loss going an inning and allowing three unearned runs on a hit with three strikeouts.
Eastern Connecticut struck first in the day's second game plating a run in the bottom of the second on an RBI single from Pat Sirois.
The Rams took a 2-1 lead in the top of third. Josselyn walked and Matt Brockett (Guilford, Conn.) reached on catcher's interference. Sophomore Joe Ambrosino (Bradeton, Fla.) followed with a two run double to left.
Eastern Connecticut took the lead back (3-2) in the bottom of the inning on an RBI triple from Cory Baldwin and a bloop single to center from Ryan Hood.
The Rams tied the game in the top of the eighth inning. The Rams loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a single. Junior Cameron Borelli (Peabody, Mass.) scored the game tying run as he scored from on a wild pitch.
Eastern Connecticut received a RBI single to left from Sirois with runners on first and second and one out to walk off with the victory.
Sophomore Kyle Hodgson (Berkley, Mass.) started for the Rams and went six innings allowing three earned runs on seven hits with a walk and nine strikeouts. Sophomore Michael Raymond (Peabody, Mass.) took the loss going 3.2 innings in relief allowing an earned run on a hit with four walks and four strikeouts.
The Rams are back in action tomorrow morning at the Chain of Lakes Stadium against Trine at 9 a.m.