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Falcons Outscore Trailblazers 18 to 1 in Conference Sweep
April 16, 2016

Falcons Outscore Trailblazers 18 to 1 in Conference Sweep

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. – The Fitchburg State baseball team took the long haul to North Adams for a Massachusetts Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader with the Trailblazers of the Mass. College of Liberal Arts, and earned its second conference sweep this season. The Falcons took the opener, 6-1, before capturing the nightcap, 12-0. 

Tommy Parsons and Javier Lozada were really good in the double-dip as the one-two pitching punch combined for 12 strikeouts, allowing just one run and six hits to lead the Green and Gold.

"Tommy and Javi really set the tone for the rest of the team," said Head Coach Kevin Barnaby. "They pounded the zone with quality pitches and got weak contact. They also had big strikeouts with runners in scoring position."

The bats were alive and well combining for 18 runs on 24 hits to give the pitchers all the run support needed, scoring 14 combined runs in the final three innings of the games.

"We did a great job of working counts and did most of our damage in later innings when pitchers started leaving the ball up from fatigue," Barnaby said.

Fitchburg State University (11-14; 4-2) have a quick turnaround as they are set to host Bridgewater State University in a MASCAC double-header on Monday April 18th starting at 12:00 p.m.

Mass. College of Liberal Arts (3-16; 0-6) will travel to take-on Mass. Maritime on the same day starting at 1:00 p.m.

Game One, 6-1
 

Fitchburg State was powered by a complete-game, one-run performance from sophomore southpaw Tommy Parsons in a 6-1 triumph over the Trailblazers of MCLA.

Parsons had opposing batters off balance all game-long striking out seven hitters and allowing just one earned run on three base hits in the seven inning complete game effort, improving his overall record to 4-3 (2-1 in conference play).
 
His opponent on the mound, sophomore Liam Nolan, was charged with four earned runs on eight Fitchburg hits while striking out six in five complete innings, taking his fifth loss of the year.

The Falcons struck quickly getting on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning when sophomore left fielder Andrew Currie got things started with a lead-off single before scoring from third base on a passed ball from the Trailblazers starting pitcher (1-0).

Later that inning, Fitchburg State senior Brendan Cutler doubled home classmate Javier Lozada for the second run of the inning (2-0).

Parsons went onto deliver four scoreless innings before the host team cut into the deficit in the bottom of the fifth when the Trailblazers cashed in on a single from sophomore Andrew Casteel, playing small ball to advance him to third before scoring on a RBI groundout from Nate Gutmann (2-1).

After an action less sixth inning the Green and Gold erupted offensively by scoring four runs on four hits, with help from two defensive miscues, to jump out to a commanding 6-1 lead in the final frame.

Parsons came in to finish his complete game performance, allowing just one hit in the final frame before striking out the next two batters and securing the 6-1 dub in game one of the double-dip.  

Senior Lozada finished the game 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and scoring two runs while Cutler added two hits, with one double, and a ribbie.  Sophomore Currie scored two runs and Shortstop Andrew Mooney was 2-for-2 at the plate with a walk and a run.

Lozada, Currie, and Nathan Littman all finished with a stolen base.
 
Game Two, 12-0

Fitchburg State continued its momentum from game one to complete the conference sweep with a 12-0 shutout against MCLA in an all-around team victory.

Senior Javier Lozada followed up on his teammates pitching effort from game one, delivering a three-hit shutout and striking out five batters on zero walks for his first scoreless outing of season and third win.

The Green and Gold bettered its offensive numbers from the first game with 14 base hits, four doubles, and a homerun to supply plenty of run support to power past MCLA.

Fitchburg State opened the scoring again, putting up runs in back-to-back frames beginning in the top of the second when Brendan Cutler reached on a bunt single before being drove in with two-out RBI double from sophomore Luis Ortiz. 

In the next inning with the bases jammed, designated hitter Steven Drury worked a two out walk to bring home Andrew Currie from third base for the second run of the game (2-0).

In the top of the fifth the Falcons continued to score runs plating four on five base hits with a two RBI hits coming from Mike St. John and later senior infielder Roel Fernandez to increase the visitors lead (6-0).

In the meantime, Lozada continued work the Trailblazers hitters, retiring ten consecutive hitters with three strikeouts until a double from sophomore outfielder Slayter Aubin in the bottom of the fifth broke up that streak.

The offense continued to add runs as Cutler's single brought home Andrew Mooney before St. John punched a two RBI double into the outfield grass. He would then come in to score when the next batter, Ortiz, picked up his second hit of the game to plate the fourth run of the sixth inning (10-0).

In the top of the seventh Cutler would reach base on a two-out error before senior Rob Lewis was called upon to pitch hit, driving a two-run homerun over the fence for his second of the season to give the Falcons the final score of 12-0.

In game two every Falcon reached safely with a base hit with four members; Cutler, St. John, Fernandez, and Ortiz all had multi-hit ball games.

St. John finished with a game-high four RBI and Lewis, Fernandez, and Ortiz all chipped in with two apiece.  

Release Courtesy of Fitchburg State Journalist Kyle Prudhomme