Fitchburg State Rides Big Seventh Inning to Victory Over Rivier

Nashua, NH – Fitchburg State University scored three runs in the seventh inning as the team sent all nine batters to the plate to put some breathing room between themselves and the Raiders from Rivier College. Fitchburg added two runs in the ninth to finish the win 8-2 and improve their record to 10-11 while the Raiders fall to 2-15 on the season.

The Falcons capitalized on a leadoff walk in the top half of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead. John Phelan (Walpole, MA) led the game of with the walk and stole second to get into scoring position, but starting pitcher Aramis Velez (Lowell, MA) induced two straight fly balls and the runner was forced to remain at second base. The next batter, Dave Alexander (Torrington, CT), ripped a single into center field to score Phelan and Alexander reached second on the throw to home plate, but would get stranded their as the next batter popped out to third base to end the inning.

Falcons starting pitcher Tynan Flegg (Calgary, AB) made quick work of the Raiders in the bottom half of the inning. Even though the leadoff batter Kevin Weaver (Hudson, NH) reached on an error, Flegg induced a 6-4-3 double play off the bat of Kevin Romero (Waterbury, CT) to stop the threat and a fly ball sent the Raiders down in order.

Velez got two quick outs in the second inning only to have a double to left field by Chris Smart (Lowell, MA) and a single by Joe Balboni (Townsend, MA) drive in another run to give Fitchburg a 2-0 lead that they would keep until the bottom of the fourth inning. In the last half of the fourth the Raiders bats came alive when a leadoff single by Romero was followed by a double from Velez to left-center field and another single by Kyle Bowser (Newington, NH) to drive in the Raiders first run. Nathan Knoetig (Manchester, NH) then grounded into a 6-4-3 double play, but picked up the RBI as Velez came across the plate to tie the game at 2-2.

Fitchburg took the lead back in the top half of the fifth when Phelan got a one out bunt single down the third base line then stole second and scored on an error by shortstop Weaver. The Falcons would threaten for more in the sixth inning, but with the bases loaded and one out Balboni grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. The seventh inning the Raiders wouldn't get so lucky as two walks to lead off the inning from pitcher Tyler Eaton (Waterville, ME) prompted a pitching change by Rivier. Lefty Mike Fecteau (Epping, NH) came in a stuck out the first batter he faced, but a double steal followed by another walk loaded the bases for the Falcons. David Mason (Leominster, MA) lofted a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in the first run of the inning and he was followed by another walk to load the bases again. Two more straight walks drove in two more runs before Fecteau could find his rhythm and strike out the ninth batter of the inning. For the second straight inning the Falcons left the bases loaded, but the damage had already been done.

The Falcons added two more runs in the top of the ninth inning off reliever Nathan Knoetig who faced 7 batter and allowed 3 hits.

Fitchburg sent Marshall Miller (Greenfield, MA) to the mound for the eighth and ninth inning and he sent the Raiders down in order in both innings to secure the 8-2 victory.

Flegg picked up the win on the mound going 7 strong innings allowing 6 hits and striking out 4 batters. Falcons pitchers did not allow a walk all game. Rivier starter Aramis Velez got a no decision, pitching three innings and giving up two runs with two walks and no strikeouts. Ford Coates (Raymond, NH) took the unfortunate loss as he pitched two innings and gave up just one run, which was unearned, on one hit with one strikeout.

Rivier will take on cross town rival Daniel Webster College on Thursday, April 14th in a home/away double header at Holman Stadium in Nashua, NH. Game time for game one is scheduled for 6:00 PM.