Fitchburg State Swoops Over New England College
The Fitchburg State softball team picked up a pair of non-conference victories this afternoon as it defeated New England College, 9-6 in an eight inning game one and 9-4 in the nightcap.
Game 1
Game 1
| Final (8) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 17 | 2 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 1 |
Game 2
Game 2
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 1 |
|
|
0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 6 |
Falcons down Pioneers, 9-6 in eight inning game one; notch 9-4 victory in game two
HENNIKER, N.H. (April 18, 2012) – The Fitchburg State softball team picked up a pair of non-conference victories this afternoon as it defeated New England College, 9-6 in an eight inning game one and 9-4 in the nightcap.
Fitchburg State 9, New England Coll. 6 (Game 1 – 8 inn.)
In the opener, Fitchburg State produced 17 hits and nine runs as the Falcons collected their 12th victory of the season with a 9-6 win over the Pioneers.
After a five run, Pioneer rally in the bottom of the seventh to knot the score at 6-6, Fitchburg State put a quick end to the New England College comeback, scoring a trio of the runs in the top of the eighth to secure the victory. Junior Lauren Weitz (Billerica, Mass./Billerica) connected for the big Falcon hit, a two-run double that drove in freshman Victoria Brinkley (Durham, Conn./Guilford) and Shannon Fitzgerald (Blackstone, Mass./Blackstone Valley). Sophomore Megan Breault (Palmer, Mass./Palmer) followed suit with a one-run single to cap the Fitchburg State rally.
For the contest, sophomore Marissa Binnall (Fitchburg, Mass./Fitchburg) led the Fitchburg State offense, hitting 3-for-4 with a trio of singles, one run scored and two RBI, while Breault added three hits and two RBI. Weitz was also solid, going 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Amanda Whitelaw (Flemington, N.J./Hunterdon Catholic) and junior Alycia McGrail (N. Brookfield, Mass./N. Brookfield) chipped in with a pair of hits.
On the mound, senior Allison Cousins (Leominster, Mass./Leominster) picked up her seventh win of the season, tossing a complete game eight hitter with four K's and only one earned run allowed.
Fitchburg State 9, New England Coll. 4 (Game 2)
In game two, Fitchburg State kept its offensive turned up high as the team connected for 15 hits to complete the sweep of the Pioneers, 9-4.
In the fourth, Fitchburg State broke open a close 1-0 game, posting four runs with a two-run double from Brinkley and an RBI single from McGrail, but the Pioneers quickly climbed back with three runs in the bottom half to cut the Falcon lead to only two (5-3). Fitchburg State sealed the contest with a pair of runs in both the sixth and seventh as Binnall and McGrail struck with RBI hits.
Leading the charge for the Falcons was McGrail who was 4-for-5 at the plate with four runs scored and RBI, while Binnall three hits, including a double, a run scored and one RBI. Brinkley was also solid with two doubles and a pair of RBI.
In the circle, McGrail picked up the win for the Falcons, allowing just three earned runs on nine scattered hits, while striking out one and walking just one.
Fitchburg State (13-19, 4-4 MASCAC) will be in action again on Saturday as it travels to Framingham State University at 1 p.m. New England College (19-15, 11-3 NAC) will visit Husson University on Friday at 3 p.m.