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Posted: Apr 01, 2024

Vikings Split Twin Bill at Fitchburg

Vikings Split Twin Bill at Fitchburg

Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications  

FITCHBURG, Mass.-  Joseph Abt (Newbury, Mass.)  and Luke Sterner (Stafford, Mass.) combined for five RBI to give Fitchburg State an 8-6 game one Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) win over Salem State on Monday afternoon at Michael P. Riccards Field.  Salem State bounced back for an 8-5 game two victory to take two out of three from the Falcons. 

Pitcher of Record

Brock Pare (Lowell, Mass.) suffered the loss in game one after pitching 5.1 innings and giving up four hits and six earned runs. Joseph Stawski (Niantic, Ct.) pitched a complete game and was the winning pitcher allowing nine hits and six runs, out of which five were earned.

Cam Fisher (Burlington, Conn.) earned the victory in game two, pitching five innings and allowing only four earned runs. Shane Daly (Rockland, Mass.) struggled on the mound, pitching four innings and giving up seven runs, five of which were earned. Greg Gentle (Arlington, Mass.)  recorded the save. 

Game 1

How Did It Happen?

  • The Vikings had runners on the corners in the second and nobody out when Owen Duggan (Billerica, Mass.) hit a double towards left field, which resulted in scoring the first run of the game. Salem State's offense did not stop there as they added two more runs, ultimately capping off a three-run second inning.
  • Fitchburg State quickly struck back in the bottom half of the inning. They had the first two runners in scoring position, and Joseph Abt (Newbury, Mass.) grounded out to James Dolan (Rockland, Mass.) at second base to bring home the first run for the Falcons. They managed to add one more run to the scoreboard, reducing the Vikings' deficit to only one run.
  • Four innings later in the sixth, the Falcons had the bases loaded with nobody out when Luke Sterner delivered a base hit that scored two Falcons' runs, which gave Fitchburg State their first lead of the game.  Sterner moved over to second on the throw which ended Pare's afternoon.  The Falcons extended their lead by scoring four more runs during the inning, which was highlighted by Abt's two-run double, capping off a six-run sixth inning for Fitchburg.
  • Salem State had two runners on base in the top of the seventh  when Antonio Belgrove drove a base hit past the diving first baseman to right field, which cut the Falcons lead to 8-4. The Vikings managed to score two more in the inning, but it wasn't enough as they lost 8-6.

Game 2 

How Did It Happen? 

  • Salem State managed to score the first two runs of the game on a sac flies by Duggan and Yabdriel Gonzalez (New Haven, Conn.) before exiting the inning leading 3-0. 
  • The Vikings managed to build on their 3-0 lead in the third. Smith hit a single towards left field and then advanced to second base on Boucher's ground out. Duggan managed to hit an RBI double towards right-center field. 
  • In the bottom of the third inning, Matthew Kelly (E. Bridgewater, Mass.) hit a double towards right-center field with one out. Fisher remained composed and focused and managed to retire the next two batters that he faced. 
  • The Falcons had an opportunity to score with two runners in scoring position with two outs, when Pike hit a ground ball that was fielded by Currier, the first baseman, who quickly tossed it to Fisher, covering the bag at first base, resulting in the final out of the fourth. 
  • The Vikings had two runners in scoring position, with nobody out in the fifth. Gonzalez  delivered a base hit up the middle, driving in two more runs. The Vikings' lead was extended to 7-0, which ended Daly's afternoon.
  • Fisher, started the fifth inning quickly, managing to get the first two outs. However, the Falcons  had runners on first and second when Koza, hit a double to left field, scoring two runs for the Falcons. Fitchburg State managed to score two more runs to cut the lead to 7-4.  

Behind The Numbers?

  • Pare allowed a hit throughout the first five innings before giving up three hits in the top of the sixth during game one.
  • The top of the Vikings lineup, Nolan Currier (Maynard, Mass.), Aidan Lynch (North Andover, Mass.), and Jake Boucher (Wallingford, Mass.)  combined for six hits with each recording two hits apiece during game one.
  • Abet and Sterner combined for five of the Falcons' eight runs during the first game.
  • Fisher only allowed four hits through the first four innings before allowing five hits alone in the fifth. 
  • During game two, the first five batters of the Vikings' lineup combined to go 8-for-14 with 7 RBI.

What's Next?

  • Salem State will return home to face Wentworth tomorrow April 2. Game time is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.