Fitchburg State Drops a Pair vs. Curry, 6-0/2-1

Falcons fall 6-0 in the opener; edged 2-1 in eight innings in game two

FITCHBURG, Mass. (April, 18, 2013) – The Fitchburg State softball team suffered a pair of non-conference setbacks to Curry College this afternoon. The Falcons suffered a 6-0 defeated in game one before falling, 2-1 in eight innings in the nightcap.

Curry 6, Fitchburg State, 0  (Game 1)

In the opening frame, Fitchburg State proceeded to load the bases on a fielder's choice, a single by sophomore Amanda Whitelaw (Flemington, N.J.) before classmate Colleen Flaherty (Stoughton, Mass.) was hit by a pitch but Colonels pitcher Taylor Ahearn (Salem, Mass.) worked out of the jam by inducing an inning ending popup.

Curry threatened in the bottom of the second inning, loading the bases with one out on a base hit by junior Taryn Vigeant (Terryville, Conn.) a fielding error and a walk by senior Allie Carver (Marlborough, Mass.) before Falcon starter Kerry Alcott (Groton, Mass.) retired the next two hitters on a foul out to shortstop and a ground out to preserve the 0-0 stalemate.

The Colonels took the lead in the third as freshman Amy Nolan (Norfolk, Mass.) singled and later scored on a Falcon miscue before Vigeant drove in sophomore Angel LaRosa (Saugus, Mass.) with a sacrifice fly to right field for the 2-0 advantage.

The hosts doubled their lead (4-0) in the fifth stanza, scoring two run on four hits and an error. LaRosa doubled to centerfield, moved to third on a base hit by Vigeant, before both runs scored on a single by junior Heather Carrier (N. Reading, Mass.) and a throwing error.

Curry added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning as juniors Paige Smigel (Versailles, Conn.) and Megan Flaherty (Medway, Mass.) connected on back-to-back singles and came around to score on a base knock by LaRosa resulting in the 6-0 final.

Offensively, junior Ashley Forgues (Fitchburg, Mass.) went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate for the Falcons, while Whitelaw was also solid, collecting a pair of singles. Vigneant paced the game one offense for Curry, hitting 2-for-3 with a two RBI, while LaRosa and Carrier combined for three hits, two runs scored and a pair of RBI.

In the circle, Ahearn picked up the win for the Colonels, allowing seven hits with four K's in the complete game effort, while Alcott took the loss, giving up four runs (one earned) on eight hits with five strikeouts in five innings of work for Fitchburg State.

Curry 2, Fitchburg State 1  (Game 2)  (Eight Innings)

In the nightcap, Curry freshman Nicole Donoghue (Malden, Mass.) outdueled Fitchburg State sophomore Brittany Whiting (Sharon, Mass.). as the Colonels edge the Falcons, 2-1 to earn the non-conference sweep.

Following seven scoreless innings, Fitchburg State finally opened the scoring in the top of the eighth inning as junior Emily Pomer (Groveland, Mass.) was placed on second base via the international tie breaker rule, advanced to third on a ground out to shortstop and crossed the plate on a fielder's choice from Forgues to put the Falcons up 1-0.

Curry quickly responded in their half of the frame, as sophomore Stephanie Lynch (Randolph, Mass.) was placed on second base, moved to third on fielding miscue and scored off a sacrifice fly from LaRosa before Maderios delivered the game winning single to left field to plate Flaherty, who reached earlier in the stanza on a fielding error for the 2-1 victory.

On the mound, Donoghue earned the win for Curry, giving up one unearned run on three hits and five strikeouts in the complete game effort, while Whiting was just as impressive, yielding just two unearned runs on six hits (9 K's) in the setback for the Falcons.

Freshman Tori Cyrus (Everett, Mass.), sophomore Hailey Thibault (Swansea, Mass.) and junior Allison Page (Wakefield, Mass.) posted one hit each for Fitchburg State, while Forgues knocked in the lone run for the visitors.

Maderios led the Colonels game two charge, finishing 2-for-3 at the dish with a double and one RBI, while Flaherty aided the offense, with a 2-for-3 effort at the plate with one run scored.

Fitchburg State (12-18, 4-4 MASCAC) returns to action on Saturday as it visits the Owls of Westfield State University for a doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. Curry  (21-14, 7-7  TCCC) will host Western New England College on Saturday for a twin billing starting at 1 p.m.