Baseball Opens Conference Slate with Sweep of Fitchburg State
Hartford, Conn. – The Framingham State University baseball team defeated Fitchburg State University 13-2 and 1-0 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader that was played at the Murren Family Field at Trinity College this afternoon.
The Rams improve to 10-8 overall on the year and are now 2-0 in the league, while Fitchburg State drops to 6-13 overall and 0-2 in the MASCAC.
In the opener, Framingham State opened the scoring in the top of the first as senior Ryan Wardwell singled to right field to bring home sophomore Jordan Pallazola, while sophomore Kyle Lippert knocked in senior Manny Powers with a base hit up the middle for the 2-0 margin.
The Rams upped their advantage (4-0) in the top of the second when junior Matt Brockett led off the frame with a walk, moved to second on single from sophomore Aaron Williams. Pallazola blasted a two-run double to left center to score Brockett and Williams.
Framingham State added to the lead in the top of the third as junior Kyle Pileski brought home two runs with a single through the left side, while Wardwell, Powers and sophomore Kyle Dembrowski added run scoring hits as well to make the score 11-0
Fitchburg State broke its scoring silence in the bottom half of the sixth when freshman Brandon Lefebvre doubled to center field and scored on a double to left center off the bat of junior Sean Maki. Junior Andrew Mooney followed with one out double into the left centerfield gap to plate Maki, resulting in the 13-2 game one final
The Falcons were paced by senior Nathan Littman, who went 2-for-4, while junior Sean Maki hit 1-for-3 with a double, one run scored and an RBI. For Framingham State, Pileski finished 2-for-5 with two runs scored and three RBI, while Powers added three hits, including a double, two RBI and a pair of runs scored.
Junior Al Wallach improved his season mark to 5-0 as he earned the victory in the opener. Wallach allowed just two earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts and a pair of walks.
The second game featured a pitcher's duel as Framingham State junior Kevin Connelly pitched a complete game two-hit shutout with three strikeouts, while senior Tyler Smith was equally as impressive for the Fitchburg State, allowing just one run on four hits and three K's.
Offensively for the Green and Gold, Maki hit 1-for-2, while newcomer Matthew Pingitore chipped in with one base knock. For the Rams, sophomore Joe Ambrosino went 1-for-2 with a double and one run scored, while Wardwell chipped in with a single and an RBI.
The two teams went back and forth through the first five innings of play before Framingham State broke the 0-0 stalemate in the top of the sixth as Ambrosino doubled down the left field line and came around to score the game's only run on a single to left from Wardwell for the 1-0 advantage.
Fitchburg State nearly knotted the score in the bottom half of the sixth when junior Drew Mazzeo and Maki walked before a wild pitch moved Mazzeo and Maki into scoring position, but Connelly got an inning ending strikeout to work out of the jam unscathed, resulting in the 1-0 game two final.
Fitchburg State returns to action on Thursday as it travels to Dean College to take on the Bulldogs for a contest starting at 3:30 p.m. Framingham State will visit Dean College on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.
Portions of Release courtesy of Fitchburg State Sports Information