Falcons Sweep Pair Of Contests On Day Three Of Their Annual Spring Trip

Recaps, photo courtesy of Fitchburg State University

Notch 9-2 triumph over La Roche in opener; Collect 9-0 shutout victory against Clarks Summit in nightcap 

Myrtle Beach, S.C. – The Fitchburg State University softball earned a sweep on their third day of the Fast Pitch Dreams Classic in Myrtly Beach, S.C. yesterday as the Falcons defeated the Redhawks of La Roche College in the opener before registering a 9-0 shutout victory over the Defenders of Clarks Summit College in their second contest of the day.

The Basics
Score: Fitchburg State 9, La Roche 2 (Game One)
Records: Fitchburg State (3-2) | La Roche (0-5)
Score: Fitchburg State 9, Clarks Summit 0 (Game Two)
Records: Fitchburg State (4-2) | Clarks Summit (0-4)

How It Happened
In game one, trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Fitchburg State scored six runs as senior Nicole Sylvester (Everett, Mass.) plated classmate Michelle LeBlanc (Ashburnham, Mass.) and freshman Morgan Cormier (Leominster, Mass.) with a two-run double to right center before senior Maddie Medina (Pelham, N.H.) and newcomer Lundyn Forcier (Woonsocket, R.I.) added RBI's in the frame for the 7-2 advantage.

The Falcons upped their margin in the bottom half of the sixth with freshman Olivia Pietersen (Norton, Mass.) doubling home senior Melissa DiPhilippo (Norfolk, Mass.), while LeBlanc would later drive in Pietersen with single through the left side, resulting in the 9-2 final.

In game two, Fitchburg State grabbed a 2-0 edge in the bottom of the first as Pietersen singled home
Forcier before Sylvester crossed the plated on a wild pitch one batter later.

The Falcons broke the game open in the bottom half of the third, scoring seven runs with freshman Audrey Johnson (Fitchburg, Mass.) notching a base hit up the middle to plate Sylvester and Cormier then proceeded to rip a two-run triple to right center that scored Johnson and Pietersen.
Senior Michaela Keenan (Boston, Mass.) followed with run scoring single to right field, while junior Emma Campbell (Goffstown, N.H.) and Forcier added run scoring singles, resulting in the 9-0 final.

Inside the Numbers

• First ever meeting with the Falcons 1-0 vs the Redhawks
• Pietersen sparked Fitchburg State's offense in first game, going 3-for-4 with a double, triple, one run scored and two RBI.
• Mikayla Harnois (Attleboro, Mass.) picked up her second win on the season for the Falcons, giving up two runs on five hits with one strikeout in five innings of work
• First ever meeting with the Falcons 1-0 vs the Defenders
• Keenan led the way for Fitchburg State in the nightcap, going 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI
• Campbell notched her second win on the year, going four innings, allowing just one hit with two K's for the Green and Gold

Up Next
Falcons return to action on Thursday as they take on Greenville and Lycoming in day four action of the Fast Pitch Dreams Classic at 9:30 AM and 1:30 PM.

March 11th Recap

For Immediate Release
Jamie Rogers
Assistant Sports Information Director
Jrogers@fitchburgstate.edu
March 11, 2019

Register 3-0 shutout victory over Norwich in opener; Drop nightcap, 4-0 to Franciscan 

Myrtle Beach, S.C. – The Fitchburg State University softball defeated the Cadets of Norwich University, 3-0 in the first game of the second day at the Fast Dreams Classic in Myrtle Beach before dropping a 4-0 decision to the Barons of Franciscan University in their second contest of the day.

The Basics
Score: Fitchburg State 3, Norwich 0 (Game One)
Records: Fitchburg State (2-1) | Norwich (0-1)
Score: Fitchburg State 0, Franciscan 4 (Game Two)
Records: Fitchburg State (2-2) | Franciscan (1-1)

How It Happened
In game one, Fitchburg State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as senior Hayley McCarthy (Lawrence, Mass.) singled to center to bring home classmate Michelle LeBlanc (Ashburnham, Mass.).

The Falcons doubled their margin (2-0) in the following frame when junior McKenzie Lambert (Wilbraham, Mass.) laced a single to left field that plated senior Melissa DiPhilippo (Norfork, Mass.) before Fitchburg State capped the scoring in the bottom half of the third with DiPhilippo notching an RBI single down the left field line to score pinch runner Morgan Cormier (Leominster, Mass.), resulting in the 3-0 final.

In game two, Franciscan grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the top half of the second inning, before doubling their advantage (2-0) in the top of the fourth following a home run.

Fitchburg State would threaten in their half of the fourth, loading the bases as freshman Lundyn Forcier (Woonsocket, R.I.) singled, moved to second on hit by pitch from classmate Audrey Johnson (Fitchburg, Mass.) and fielding error that allowed newcomer Courtney Luker (North Reading, Mass.) to reach, but the Barons got out the jam by inducing an inning ending ground out to preserve the 2-0 margin.

The Barons would secure the victory in the fifth, plating two insurance runs, resulting in the 4-0 final.

Inside the Numbers

• Fourth meeting with the Falcons 4-0 vs the Cadets
• DiPhilippo paced the Green and Gold in game one, going 2-for-4 with a double, one run scored and one RBI
• Mikayla Harnois (Attleboro, Mass.) earned the win in the circle, pitching a complete game, five hit shutout with a career-best tying six K's in the opener for Fitchburg State
• Third meeting with the Falcons 2-1 vs the Barons
• Forcier led the way for the Falcons in game two with her first two collegiate hits, including a triple
• Taylor Colvin (Lancaster, Mass.) took the loss in the second contest, giving up three earned runs on seven hits and two K's in 4.1 innings of work