Salem State, Fitchburg State Split Doubleheader

SALEM, Mass. -- TJ Beninati went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored as Salem State used a 10-run sixth inning to storm past Fitchburg State, 17-10 in game one of their scheduled MASCAC doubleheader on Friday at The Central Campus Baseball Field. The Falcons flipped the script in game two as Nolan Hills hit a two-run, two-out single in the top of the seventh, tying the score at 4-4 before coming home with the eventual game-winner on a Zachary Malek ground-rule double as Fitchburg State rallied for a 5-4 come-from-behind win. The Vikings are now 6-14 on the season and 3-3 in conference. The Falcons even their record at 10-10 and go to 2-4 in the MASCAC.

Game One

Fitchburg State registered five hits off starter Brock Pare in the top of the first to take a 5-0 lead. Vincent Eramo tripled off the wall in straightaway centerfield, scoring Liam Goldstein, who had walked with the game's first run. Adam Koza followed with a sacrifice fly before Hills knocked in Jacon Hurrell who had doubled. A hit-and-run led to an RBI double by Malek. Matt Kelly then connected with the Falcons' fourth straight hit, scoring Malek with the fifth run.

Salem State came back in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases for EJ Field, who delivered an RBI single as the first five Viking batters reached. A fielder's choice and two- run single by TJ Beninai, chased starting pitcher Adam Wholley. Reliever Joseph Hartnett relieved, and two consecutive wild pitches, scored Beninati with the game-tying run. Lead-off batter Brahiam Ortega came to bat for the second time and walked with the bases loaded to plate the go-ahead run as Salem State took a 6-5 lead.  

Wholley was charged with six runs, five earned on three hits and a walk. Koza evened the game at 6-6 with a double off the left field wall for the Falcons in the second. Kyle Banche came in to relieve in the top of the third and was greeted by a solo-home run to right by Hills that regained the lead for the Falcons. Back-to-back hits and a throwing error by the catcher scored Matt Kelly, giving the Falcons an 8-6 lead.

Trailing 9-7 in the sixth, Salem State sent 15 men to the plate scoring 10 runs on six hits. Beninati's RBI single started a run of six straight Vikings to reach base with James Dolan and Ortega driving in three of the runs with back-to-back doubles. Bailey Griggs came in for Lowell Pare, who had entered the game in the fifth after Pare could only record one out in the inning. A bases loaded walk to Beninati gave him his second RBI of the inning and Chris Simone capped the scoring with a two-run single to right. Brad Feeder pitched three innings to earn the win, allowing just one run on three hits with two strikeouts and three walks. Pare suffered the loss, allowing eight runs - five earned on four hits with a walk and strikeout.

EJ Field went 3-for-5 with while Ortega finished 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Simone had a hit in two trips to the plate with two runs and three RBI. Fitchburg State's Hills went 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs and two RBI while Eramo finished 2-for-4 with a double, triple, two RBI and a run scored.

Game Two

Salem State took an early 1-0 lead on a groundout by Chris Dolan in the second. The Falcons took the lead in the fourth on an RBI double by Hills and single to short by Matt Kelly, who knocked in Hills from third. Vikings starter Mason Consigli pitched well, giving up just two runs - one earned on four hits with three strikeouts and three walks before giving way to Emerson Tucholski in the sixth.

The Vikings added three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take a 4-2 lead. Owen Duggan and Boucher each added RBI singles before a fielder's choice scored Duggan with Salem State's third run. Pare replaced Fitchburg State starter Sy Sullivan in the sixth after the freshman allowed four runs on six hits with a two strikeouts and a walk. Tucholski pitched a scoreless inning in relief for Salem State, who then brought in second baseman Boucher for the save opportunity. However, Max Kelly and Eramo both singled, putting runners on the corners with one out. A strikeout then put the game in the hands of Hills, who delivered a game-tying two run single to left. Malek then followed with a ground-rule double, driving in pinch-runner Cole DuHaime for a 5-4 lead.

Pare ran into trouble in the bottom of the seventh as two errors by the Falcons put runners on first and third with two outs. However, Pare retired pinch-hitter Deven Fuegen after the freshman lined a ball off the pitcher, but Pare recovered to throw out Fuegen at first by a step to preserve the win. Pare picked up the win with two scoreless innings in relief. Boucher took the loss, giving up three runs on five hits with three strikeouts in an inning of work. 

Hills had two hits in four trips to the plate with three RBI for the Falcons. The Vikings managed just six hits in the second game and did not record an extra-base hit.