Baseball drops twinbill to Framingham in MASCAC opener
Courtesy of Framingham Sports Information
Northboro, Mass. – The Framingham State University baseball team cruised to an 11-4 vicotry in game one and came from behind to win game two 3-2 against MCLA this afternoon in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at the New England Baseball Complex.
With the wins, the Rams improve to 11-5 on the season and are 2-0 in the conference, while the losses drop the Trailblazers to 7-6 overall and 0-2 in the MASCAC.
The Rams jumped on top in the opener with five runs in their first at bat of the day. Senior Ivan Colon (Waltham, Mass.) plated a run with a single to right and classmate Billy Derosier (Shrewsbury, Mass.) followed with a two run homer to center. An RBI fielder's choice and an MCLA error accounted for the Rams final two runs in the frame.
MCLA got three back in the top of the second to cut the deficit to 5-3. Senior Mike Mancivalano (Pittsfield, Mass.) double down the right field line to score the first and classmate Alon Willing (Altamont, NY) followed with a two run double.
Willing plated his third run of the day in to the top of the fourth with an RBI groundout. Framingham's Jake Wardwell (Hudson, Mass.) ended the Trailblazers rally and kept a one run differential with a diving catch in right field with runners on second and third.
The Rams two runs in the bottom of the fourth, fifth and sixth to extend their lead to 11-4. Senior Mark Mainini and Derosier plated runs in the fourth with RBI singles and an MCLA error led to a run in the fifth. Junior R.J. Gray (Lowell, Mass.) capped the scoring for the Rams with a two RBI double in the bottom of the sixth.
Sophomore Mike Andrews (Stoneham, Mass.) earned the game one victory for the Rams improving his season mark to 1-1. Andrews went seven innings allowing four runs, all earned, on four hits with six strikeouts. Junior Robert Jutras (Readsboro, VT) suffered the loss going five innings and allowing nine runs, four earned, on 10 hits with a strikeout.
MCLA jumped on top in the top of the first of game two plating a pair of runs. Senior Rory Slattery (Pittsfield, Mass.) pushed across the first run with an RBI double and classmate Tyler Benoit (North Adams, Mass.) followed with a single through the right side for the second run.
The Rams got one back in the bottom of the second on a sacrifice fly from senior Kevin Driscoll (Chelmsford, Mass.).
Derosier tied the game in the bottom of the fourth with his second homerun of the day and Driscoll put the Rams on top for good with an RBI double.
The Trailblazers threatened in the top of the seventh, but Gray made a diving catch on a ball in the outfield to secure the final out.
Freshman Kevin Connelly (Bolton, Mass.) earned the game two victory on the hill going six innings allowing two earned runs on six hits with four walks and a pair of strikeouts. Freshman Chris Riga (Westfield, Mass.) worked an inning of scoreless relief to pick up the save.
Freshman Ryan Grande (Pittsfield, Mass.) took the loss for the Trailblazers going five and two thirds allowing three earned runs on five hits with seven strikeouts.