Five-Run Eighth Leads Salem State to Come-From-Behind-Victory Over Framingham State

Five-Run Eighth Leads Salem State to Come-From-Behind-Victory Over Framingham State

SALEM, MASS. – Salem State erased a seven-run deficit, scoring nine runs in the seventh and eighth innings to come back and defeat the Framingham State Rams 15-13 in a Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) game on Wednesday afternoon at the Central Campus Baseball Field.

Pat Fitzgerald's (Auburn, Mass.) three-run single in the eighth, highlighted a five-run inning as Salem State regained a lead they would not relinquish. Matt Marquez (Salem, Mass.) went 3-for-5 with a home run and five RBI to lead the charge. Brock Riley (Lowell, Mass.) struck out the side in the ninth to preserve the win as the Vikings improve to 9-7 and 3-1 in the MASCAC. The Rams go to 9-9 and 3-1 in the conference.  

Framingham State struck first in the bottom of the opening inning off starter Stephen Keskinidis (Stoneham, Mass.). A one-out walk, set up an RBI double to deep right-center by Joe Ambrosino (Bradenton, Fla.).     

The Vikings took a 2-1 lead in the second. A hit by pitch and walk, put runners on first and second. An error by the third baseman loaded the bases for Shawn Rebello (Bellingham, Mass.) who delivered a two-run single up the middle.

A Marquez  three-run home in the third gave Salem State a 5-1 lead.

Kyle Dembrowski (Natick, Mass.) singled in the second Framingham State run in the top of the fourth.  

Six hits and five runs in the fourth regained the lead for the Rams. Dembrowski and Jonathan Cloutier (Falmouth, Mass.) singled in the first two runs. An error by the right fielder added another score before a fielder's choice and an RBI base hit by Andrew Curtis (Dracut, Mass.) put Framingham State up 6-5.

Josh Jezouit (Williamstown, Mass.) replaced Rams' starter Michael Tucci (Danbury, Conn.), who allowed three earned runs on four hits with three walks and three strikeouts in four innings.

Salem State evened the game in the bottom of the fourth as a leadoff double by Christian Burt (Lynn, Mass.) and passed ball set up a perfectly executed suicide squeeze by Brendan Greene (Winchester, Mass.).

Matthew Enos (Beverly, Mass.) replaced Keskinidis in the fifth. Keskinidis went four innings, giving up three earned runs with six strikeouts and a pair of walks.

A single and back-to-back walks in the sixth ended the day for Enos, who was replaced by Dylan McCormick (South Kingstown, R.I.). A walk to Framingham State's Matt Fogarty (Millis, Mass.) plated one run before Dembrowski launched a two-run double to right. Brian Smith (Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.) relieved and Bobby Higgins (Barnstable, Mass.) blooped a single for the fourth Rams' run. A double steal and sacrifice fly by Cory Carahar (Plymouth, Mass.) made the score 12-6.

Anthony Panza (Watertown, Mass.) came on in the seventh for the Rams. Mike Griffin (Nashua, N.H.) added an RBI single as Salem State opened the inning with three straight base runners. Kyle O'Connor (Lynn, Mass.) ripped an RBI double into the right field corner which brought in a new pitcher for the Rams. Randy White (Hubbardston, Mass.) was greeted by a hit from Marquez, who made it a three-run game with a two-run single to center. Griffin made it a 13-11 game with an RBI single to left causing Framingham State to use their fifth pitcher of the game. Kevin Scerra (Marlborough, Mass.) entered the game and following a walk, Pat Fitzgerald (Auburn, Mass.) scored all three runners with a single and a misplay by the right fielder.   

Bryce Dawson (Exeter, N.H.) earned the win with one inning of scoreless work before Riley closed out the ninth for his second save of the season. Scerra picked up the loss, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk in 0.2 innings.  

Traverse Brianna (Lynn, Mass.) finished 3-for-3 with two walks and three runs scored for the Vikings, who racked up 15 hits.