Fitchburg State 6, Worcester State 2

Worcester State 13, Fitchburg State 4

Game 1 --- Box Score

Game 2 --- Box Score

Worcester, MA --- Fitchburg State freshman Alex Teal (Malden, MA) tossed a complete game victory for the 6-2 triumph before Worcester State came back to defeat the Falcons 13-4 in the nightcap at Fitton Field on the campus of Holy Cross. Junior Johno Hinkell (North Adams, MA) belted a grand slam in the second game while freshman Chris Creen (Worcester, MA/St. John's)notched four hits and three RBIs for WSC.

Fitchburg State took advantage of two Worcester State errors and four unearned runs in the top of the fifth inning to post its 15th victory of the season in game one.

The Falcons received a solid offensive effort from junior Ricky Graham (Walpole, MA/Walpole) who went 2-for-4 with a homerun, two runs scored and two RBI, while sophomore Michal Mercier (Townsend, MA) and junior Nick Rocheleau (Leominster, MA) both added RBI singles.

Senior TJ Magnell (Leominster, MA) went 2-for-4 with two runs scored while Creen chipped in with a pair of hits and an RBI on a ground out in the third inning.

Fitchburg State grabbed an early 2-1 lead through three innings of play sparked by Graham’s second frame solo homerun, but the Falcons broke open the contest in the top of the fifth as they for the 6-1 advantage.

Taking advantage of a pair of WSC miscues that opened up the stanza, Fitchburg State notched three consecutive hits to plate four runs. Rocheleau and Graham ignited the rally with back-to-back RBI singles before Mercier followed suit with a two-run single up the middle.

Trailing 6-1, the Lancers added a single run in the bottom of the seventh as Magnell scored following his lead-off single, but Teal buckled down with runners on second and third to end the contest.

Teal drew the spotlight for the Falcons, allowing two runs (one earned) as he went the distance. The first-year hurler improved to 3-3 on the season, scattering seven hits and three walks while striking out seven.

Junior Chad Kasik (Dudley, MA) suffered the loss for Worcester State. Kasik (5-3) yielded six runs (one earned) on seven hits and fanning five, while freshman Shaun Slattery (Gardner, MA) threw two innings of strong relief for the Lancers, holding the Fitchburg State bats silent over the final two frames. 

Third-year Corey McDonald (Hudson, MA) saw his 22-game hitting streak come to an end as he went 0-for-4 in the contest. McDonalds mark is tied with WSC Hall of Famer Jason Akana for the second-best streak in program history.

In the nightcap, Worcester State jumped out to a quick 6-0 first-inning lead. The Lancers quickly erased their game-one loss, touching for six runs on four hits and one error in the bottom of the first inning. Hinkell notched the big first inning blow with a grand slam homerun, while Creen added a RBI single.

In the third and fourth frames, Worcester State continued to pump its offense, adding six runs over the two-innings for a commanding 12-0 advantage. WSC was highlighted by a solo homer by third-year Paul Rodriguez (San Antonio, TX) and run producing singles by Hinkell and senior Nick Caparell (North Attleboro, MA).

Fitchburg State broke its scoring silence in the top of the fifth frame as junior Andrew Foster (E. Bridgewater, MA) and classmate Erik DiMauro (Foxboro, MA) plated runs with a pair of RBI doubles, but the Falcons comeback was short-lived as the Lancers closed the contest one inning later.

Worcester State’s Bobby DeVito (Webster, MA) improved to 5-0 with the victory as he hurled the first 5.2 innings of the contest. The junior thrower limited Fitchburg State to only four hits and four runs, while striking out five and walking three. DeVito was relieved by senior Kevin Hayes (Medford, MA), who broke the career record for appearances (54) previously held by last year's closer, Pat Good.

Senior Nick Ryan (Lowell, MA) was handed the setback as he goes to 1-4 on the year for Fitchburg State, allowing five runs in the opening frame.           

Hinkell, Creen and Caparell each tallied two hits apiece while McDonald and Rodriguez crossed the plate twice. Hinkell notched five RBIs.

Phelan was FSC's only multi hitter as he went 2-for-3 while Foster drove in a pair.

Fitchburg State will be back in action tomorrow as it host UMass Boston at 3:30 PM. Worcester State entertains Fisher College on Thursday at 4 PM at Assumption on "Senior Day"

Some Portions of Release Courtesy of Fitchburg State Sports Information