By Izabela Gage
Staff Writer
The Rams currently hold a 6-3 conference record, standing third behind Westfield State and Massachusetts Maritime Academy respectively. After the turnaround from their 0-9 start, their overall record is now 8-12.
Junior pitcher PJ Moniz said, “The team morale has definitely improved in the locker room and out there on the field. We are all playing for each other, and we knew this team had this in us.”
Baseball achieved a five-game win streak, four of which were conference games, before their doubleheader against Salem State University Vikings April 15. The Rams won against the Vikings 7-1 in the first game but fell in the second game 5-4.
Moniz said, “We are winning games. Our bats are hot and our pitching has been trending in the right direction since the beginning of the season until now.”
In the win against Salem, the Rams had 26 at bats, scoring runs on seven of them. The Vikings had a total of 29 at bats but only scored one run in the entire game.
Junior infielder Danny Robichaud, senior third baseman JC Espinal, and senior outfielder Ryan Boyle all tallied two RBIs, and junior outfielder Lucas Basile tallied one.
Junior pitcher Vincent LoGuidice pitched in six innings, striking out four of Salem’s players. Moniz pitched for one and struck out one player. The Vikings only struck out four of Framingham’s batters.
Espinal said they have been working on “minimizing errors, because that’s what costs us the games.”
In their 7-1 win, they had only one error, which unfortunately helped the Vikings score their one run in the fifth inning.
During their second game against Salem State, the Rams only had 24 at bats, falling short of the Vikings' 33.
Basile recorded two RBIs, with Espinal and senior middle infielder Cameron Gilroy recorded one each.
Salem earned four of their five runs against FSU sophomore pitcher Josh Sunderland, during his 5.1 innings pitched.
Framingham put in sophomore pitcher Daniil Rye for the last 1.2 innings, during which Salem scored their fifth and final run due to their batter being hit by a pitch.
The Rams did not let their loss to Salem affect them, and they beat Worcester State University 17-10 April 16.
The Rams were at bat a total of 42 times, recording 18 hits, and tallying 17 runs.
Basile tallied four hits and five runs out of his five times at bat.
Ryan Plocker, sophomore catcher, hit his first collegiate home run in the eighth inning, which was the only one of the game.
Graduate utility player Robert Johnston tallied an overpowering five RBIs, while Boyle tallied three, and Espinal tallied four. Sophomore outfielder Shane Costello, junior infielder Dane Frellick, and Plocker all tallied one.
Framingham only had one error in the entire game, which occurred in the fourth inning.
Moniz said, “We played some tough competition down in Florida. It wasn’t fun losing games down there, but it prepared us for when we came back up north to face the teams here, especially in conference.”
This season, seven games have been postponed, against Albertus Magnus College, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, Roger Williams University, Dean College, and Worcester State University.
Espinal said, “We have been a lot more confident.
“It’s been a hectic schedule with delays, but we’ve been managing,” he added.
Boyle said, “We got off to such a bad start.”
He added, “Winning helps with everything” and this turnaround has been “definitely motivating.”
Framingham State was scheduled to travel to Rivier University April 18, but the game was canceled due to weather.
The Rams travel to Westfield State for a conference matchup April 19, before they play Westfield on home field for two more games April 20.
“We need to play our best baseball this weekend when we play Westfield because the series against them is crucial for us,” Moniz said.