Falcons Drop MASCAC Opener to Mass. Maritime, 7-4

BUZZARDS BAY, Mass. - Fitchburg State University fell to Massachusetts Maritime. 7-4, in the opening game of a scheduled Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) baseball doubleheader Friday afternoon at Commodore Hendy Field. The nightcap was postponed in the bottom of the second with the Buccaneers holding a 1-0 advantage, as the game will be played in its entirety at a later date.

The host Buccaneers (6-4, 1-0 MASCAC) overcame an early three-run deficit by plating a single run in the bottom of the second on Petruzzelli's two-out RBI single, and Massachusetts Maritime took the lead for good in the fourth on a two-run double off the bat of freshman Logan Sullo that followed a sacrifice fly by Petruzzelli and a run-scoring two-bagger from senior Bobby Rosano. The visiting Falcons (7-6, 0-1 MASCAC) crept back to within one in the top of the fifth on an RBI groundout by junior Brendan Cutler, but Massachusetts Maritime tacked on a pair of insurance tallies in the bottom of the frame on a bunt single by sophomore Terrence Mudie and a run-scoring groundout by Petruzzelli that closed out the scoring.

Fitchburg State took its early lead with a two-out rally in the top of the second, as the Falcons put together five hits in the inning and took advantage of an error to plate three runs on RBI singles off the bats of junior Roel Fernandez as well as freshmen Donald Geloso and Drew Mazzeo, but the visitors would muster just two hits for the remainder of the game off Rozak and Kennedy. Rozak scattered six hits and fanned three in allowing just one earned run over the opening four innings of play to improve to 3-1 overall on the spring, while Kennedy worked around a hit and an unearned run while recording a strikeout to earn his first save of the season by getting the final nine outs of the contest.

Sophomore Jake Petruzzelli drove in a career-high three runs, while juniors Alex Rozak and Kyle Kennedy combined on a seven-hitter and struck out four on the mound in the winning effort. Junior Everett Walsh rapped out three of Massachusetts Maritime's 10 hits on the day, as senior Greg Downs joined Rosano in picking up a double for the Buccaneers.  Freshmen William Keane and Connor Kennedy also singled for the hosts, who have won two straight and four of their last five outings.  Geloso recorded two of Fitchburg State's seven hits on the afternoon, as freshman Nik Powers allowed seven hits and one earned run while fanning four over the first four innings of work to fall to 0-3 on the season for the Falcons.

Fitchburg State is scheduled to take on Framingham State in a MASCAC twinbill on Saturday afternoon in Watertown, Mass. that begins at 4:00 pm, while Massachusetts Maritime is scheduled to travel to Worcester, Mass. tomorrow afternoon to take on Worcester State in a MASCAC doubleheader beginning at Noon.

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