Softball celebrates Senior Day in season finale

North Adams, MA— The visiting Fitchburg State softball team pulled out a hard fought 4-2 win in the opening game before exploding for a 19-4 win in the nightcap to earn a sweep over the MCLA Trailblazers.  The Falcons improve to 17-20 overall and end the MASCAC slate at 6-8.  MCLA ends their season at 5-31 including a 2-12 mark in the conference.

Game One: Fitchburg 4, MCLA 2

After two scoreless innings, MCLA took the early lead when Lidia Flores doubled home Nicole Main to make it 1-0.  The score would remain that way until the fifth inning when Fitchburg's Bella Sousa ripped an RBI single off Flores to tie things up at 1-1.

MCLA regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning when Maddie Teta singled home Main to make it 2-1. 

Fitchburg, who outhit MCLA 12-4, would create a rally in the sixth inning.  Dana Cisowski tied the game up when her base hit scored Ella Marshall to make it 2-2.  Julia Gauvin followed that up with an RBI double deep into center field and the Falcons led for the first time at 3-2.  They would add an insurance tally on Sousa's second RBI hit of the afternoon.

MCLA threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning as Main walked and then Teta reached on an error.  The throw went into foul territory and Main attempted to score all the way from first.  Falcon catcher Kiara Bigeau would tag her out however to quiet the rally.  Sousa would then induce a flyout to end the contest.

Cahill went the distance allowing just four hits and striking out nine batters.  Cisowski was a perfect 4-4 from the plate to lift the offense. 

For MCLA, starting pitcher Lora Woyton threw well thru four innings before being lifted.  Main had a nice day going 1-1 with a pair of walks.

Game Two: Fitchburg 19, MCLA 4

In the nightcap, the Falcons erupted for 11 runs on nine hits in the top of first inning to take immediate control.  The key blow of the frame was a three run double to left center off the bat of Audrey Johnson.  The Falcons first 11 batters reached before an out was recorded.  Johnson would bring around another run in the frame and Fitchburg led 11-0.

MCLA got a run back in the bottom half as Maddie Teta started things off with a single to right.  She promptly stole second and advanced to third on a groundout.  She would come home on an infield single from Lora Woyton.  The Trailblazers would tack on another run in the second when Ezmeralda Albright scored on a wild pitch to make it 11-2.

Any thoughts of a further comeback were thwarted when the Falcons scored six times in the third to take the game over.  Emma Marshall had the key hit with a three run double.

The run support was plenty for Falcon starter Stephanie Poulin.  She went the first three innings to earn the win.  Bella Sousa went 4-4 in the nightcap Lundyn Forcier added a three hit afternoon.

For MCLA, Justina Pardi went 3-3 in defeat while Teta was 2-3.