Falcons Collect Split With Panthers

Recap, photo courtesy of Fitchburg State University

Falcon drop opener 7-4; Rebound with 4-1 victory in the nightcap 

Fitchburg, Mass. – The Fitchburg State University softball team split a non-conference double header with the Panthers of Plymouth State University this afternoon at Coolidge Park as the Falcons dropped the opener 7-3 before registering a 4-1 triumph in game two to earn the split.

The Basics

Score: Fitchburg State 3, Plymouth State 7 (Game One)

Score: Fitchburg State 4, Plymouth State 1 (Game Two)

Records: Fitchburg State (7-9) | Plymouth State (12-8)

How It Happened

Game One

Plymouth State took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first as junior Ashley Deyo (Dover, N.H.) singled to center to bring home classmates Cassidy Emerson (Concord, N.H.) and Hannah Seidner (Pembroke, N.H.) before Fitchburg State answered with a run of their own (3-1) in the bottom of the third when newcomer Cammi Sperling (Rutland, Mass.) doubled to center and scored on base hit up the middle by sophomore McKenzie Lambert (Wilbraham, Mass.).

The Falcons knotted the score (3-3) in the bottom half of the fifth as Lambert blasted a triple into the right centerfield gap that plated junior Maddie Medina (Pelham, N.H.), while junior Nicole Sylvester (Everett, Mass.) added a run scoring single up the middle to score Lambert.

Plymouth State regained the lead for good in the top of the seventh when Seidner singled to center to bring home junior Debra Morrill (Concord, N.H.) before Deyo connected on a run scoring base knock to third, resulting in the 7-3 game one final.

Game Two

Plymouth State grabbed an early 1-0 advantage in the top of the first as junior Autumn Beyor (Highgate, Vt.) singled, moved to second and third on a sacrifice and steal before scoring on an RBI ground out from Deyo.

Fitchburg State responded with two runs in the bottom half of the frame when Sperling singled to center to drive in sophomore Mikayla Harnois (Attleboro, Mass.), while junior Melissa DiPhilippo (Norfolk, Mass.) added a run scoring single up the middle to plate junior Hayley McCarthy (Lawrence, Mass.) to give the Falcons a 2-1 edge.

The Green and Gold added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom half of the sixth as Lambert singled, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on base hit off the bat of sophomore Emma Campbell (Goffstown, N.H.) before junior Michaela Keenan (Boston, Mass.) brought home Sylvester on a fielder's choice, resulting in the 4-1 game two final to secure the split.

Inside the Numbers

Fitchburg State was paced by Lambert, who finished 5-for-7 with a triple, two runs scored and two RBI, while Sperling added a pair of hits with a double, one RBI and a run scored in the two games.

Deyo led the way for Plymouth, hitting 5-of-6 with three RBI, while Seidner went 3-for-8, including three runs scored and one RBI on the afternoon for the Panthers.

In the circle for the Falcons, freshman Taylor Colvin (Lancaster, Mass.) took the game one loss, allowing four earned runs on seven hits with seven K's in seven innings pitched, while Harnois picked up the game two win for the hosts in the night cap after yielding just one run on six hits and three strikeouts in the complete game effort.

For the Panthers, sophomore Caitlyn Miller (Lee, N.H.) earned the win in the opener, allowing three runs on seven hits and five strikeouts in seven innings pitched, while senior Allison Moylan (Methuen, Mass.) suffered the setback in the nightcap, giving up three earned runs on seven hits and two K's in 5.1 innings of work.

56th meeting between the two schools on the softball field with the Falcons currently 14-41-1 all-time when taking on the Panthers.

Fitchburg State has won four of the last six matchups with Plymouth State with the two teams splitting the season series, 2-7/2-1 last season. Former Falcon Damari Grossi paced the Falcons, going 3-for-7 with a double, one stolen base and an RBI.

Up Next

Falcons will hosts the Trailblazers MCLA on Saturday with MCLA serving as the home team for a MASCAC double header, starting at 12:00 PM. Panthers will visit UMass Boston on the same date for an LEC twin-billing at 1:00 PM.