Trailblazer offense carries baseball to split with Framingham in MASCAC opener

Courtesy of Framingham Sports Information

Auburn, Mass. – The Framingham State University baseball team received seven shutout innings from sophomore Kevin Connelly (Bolton, Mass.) in a 10-0 game two victory over MCLA in Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) action at Auburn High School.  The Trailblazers defeated the Rams 12-10 in the opener.

With the split, the Rams are now 12-10 on the year and 2-1 in the league, while the Trailblazers are now 5-7 on the season and 1-1 in the MASCAC.

Connelly tossed his second complete game shutout of the week this afternoon.  Connelly went seven innings and held the Trailblazers to just three hits, after they collected 16 in the opening game of the twinbill.  Connelly added seven strikeouts and two walks. 

Senior Ryan Wardwell (Hudson, Mass.) went 4-for-4 for the Rams in game two with four RBI and two runs scored, while freshman Robert Higgins (Barnstable, Mass.) went 3-for-3 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.  Junior Matt Brockett (Guilford, Mass.) recorded two hits with three RBI and a run scored, while senior Manny Powers (Malden, Mass.) added a double and two RBI.

Junior Liam Nolan (Pittsfield, Mass.) took the loss in game two going five innings and allowing 10 runs, eight earned, on 11 hits with four walks and eight strikeouts.

The Trailblazers got on the board first in the opener with a pair of runs in the top of the first.  Jonathan Parker (Menands, NY) singled and scored on an error and Joe DiMassimo (Dalton, Mass.) plated the second run on a single to right.

The Rams loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning on three straight walks.  Powers followed with a bases clearing double to left center.  The Rams reloaded the bases and Brockett walked with bases loaded forcing in the fourth run and a Trailblazer error accounted for the final run in the frame.

The Trailblazers tied the game with three in the top of the second including RBI sinlges from Joseph Toledo (Brooklyn, NY) and Billy Pulasky (Lanesboro, Mass.).

The Trailblazers plated six runs in the top of the third to push the lead to 11-5.  The Rams got three back in the bottom of the fourth on a two run homer from Powers and RBI double by Wardwell.  

Powers added a second homerun in the bottom of the sixth inning.  This one a solo shot to right that cut the deficit to 12-9. The Rams loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth, but a lineout ended the inning.

Austin Miller (Florida, Mass.) earned the win in the opener for the Trailblazers tossing five innings in relief.  Junior Al Wallach (Nahant, Mass.) took the loss for the Rams allowing 10 runs, our earned, on nine hits.

The Rams are back in action Monday night when they face Plymouth State at Franklin Pierce at 8 p.m., while the MCLA is back in action on Sunday with a pair of MASCAC games at Salem State beginning at 1 p.m.