By Jen Fortin
While down in Florida for spring break, Framingham State faced Cairn University from Pennsylvania and Eastern Connecticut State in a Thursday doubleheader. Coming in with a record of 4-2, both games were lost in extra innings for Framingham.
Cairn scored in the Frst inning with a single to left Feld by Nathan Wilson and again in the fifth and seventh innings to make it 3-0.
The Rams finally got on the board in the bottom of the eighth with a two-out error by second baseman Jacob Allen, allowing for Kyle Lippert to reach first and Kyle Dembrowski to score.
The Rams scored two more runs in the following inning, beginning with a steal by Roy Goodman who then advanced to third on an error. Kyle Pileski singled, allowing for Goodman to score. Pileski then stole second and scored off of Cole Josselyn’s single to left Feld.
Going into extra innings, the tenth was left scoreless and in the eleventh, Cairn totaled three extra runs on FSU errors, a wild pitch and a failed pickoff attempt.
The Rams answered in the bottom of the inning but could not overcome the three-run deficit, totaling only two runs.
The inning began with a double by Manny Powers and a walk from Anthony Herman. With runners on second and third, Pileski’s single to right Feld brought in one run. Herman scored the second run on a wild pitch and the inning ended with an out at third base.
Alex Erwin pitched six innings for the Rams, allowing four hits, two runs and four walks but struck out eight.
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The second game on Thursday ended in the tenth inning with another loss for the Rams, this time against Eastern Connecticut State.
Kyle Hodgson was the starting pitcher and completed six innings, allowing seven hits, three runs, one walk and nine strikeouts. Michael Raymond closed the last 3.2 innings allowing only one run, but walked and struck out four each.
Trailing 1-0 entering the third, the Rams rallied for two runs on a double hit to left center by Joe Ambrosino, scoring Matt Brockett and Josselyn.
The Warriors answered by matching the Rams’ gain in the bottom of the inning off of a triple from leadoff hitter, Cory Baldwin, who then scored on a single by Ryan Hood.
The Rams tied the game in the top of the eighth on a two-out, bases loaded passed ball, enabling Cameron Borrelli to score.
Entering extra innings, Framingham failed to matriculate any runs and lost in the bottom of the inning with a single by Pat Sirois, which enabled William Coleman to score from second base.
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The Rams recorded another loss the following day against Trine University of Indiana, blowing a 3-0 lead in the ninth inning.
FSU’s Jordan Pallazola scored one run in the bottom of the fourth on a defensive error on a ball that Kyle Dembrowski put into play.
Holding the Trine Thunder to no runs, the Rams scored another two in the eighth inning. Aaron Williams reached first base on a fielding error and Kyle Lippert walked, which then was followed by a double steal with two outs. A double by Pallazola allowed both players to reach home, giving the Rams a 3-0 lead.
The top of the ninth proved to be fateful as Trine scored four runs to win the game. With one out, the bases were loaded after three consecutive singles. Designated hitter Zach Seder singled to left field which scored one and left the bases loaded.
Another single scored two more Trine players and a sacrifice fly allowed for the fourth run of the inning.
Three strikeouts in the bottom of the inning ended the game and marked a 4-3 loss for Framingham.
Kevin Connelly pitched the majority of the game, allowing only five hits and one run while striking out eight.
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On Saturday, the Rams played a doubleheader against Mt. St. Joseph of Ohio, winning the first game 1-0 and losing the second 12-3.
Al Wallach had a well-pitched game with three strikeouts, five hits and one walk, facing 27 total batters.
The Rams scored the only run of the game in the top of the sixth, beginning with Williams reaching first on a throwing error.
A Josselyn single and a bunt from Brockett loaded the bases for Framingham. Powers, who went 2-for-3 in the game, singled, allowing for Williams to score.
The second game against Mt. St. Joseph proved to be more of a challenge for Framingham.
Josh Jezouit pitched 4.2 innings, allowing 10 hits, seven runs and two walks while striking out three. Brian Quinn closed out the game, allowing one hit and striking out one.
Mt. St. Joseph’s Roman Rothwell and Nate Hunter each had an RBI in the first inning, which helped their team take the lead.
Again in the third inning, Austin Richey’s double scored one and then he scored on the next play from an FSU fielding error. Framingham answered in the bottom of the inning with a homerun from Anthony Herman, putting the Rams on the board, 4-1.
The Lions scored another three runs in the fifth inning, beginning with a homerun from Nick Browning and a single to right Feld by Drew Werner.
Again, the Rams responded with a single from Borrelli which allowed Powers to score and then Pileski scored on a throwing error from second base. The Lions took a 7-3 lead after the fifth.
Mt. St. Joseph scored five more runs in the following inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from Richey.
FSU went 5-6 while down in Florida.
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Upon their return back to Framingham, the Rams snagged a win against Roger Williams University on Monday to give them a record of 7-7 on the season.
Kyle Hodgson pitched 7.2 innings, with nine strikeouts, one walk and allowed only one run to score, while facing 33 total batters.
The Rams showed some action in the bottom of the first inning, with a walk and steals to second and third by Williams. Pallazola’s hit to the pitcher allowed for Williams to score the first run of the game.
After a series of 1-2-3 innings for both teams, the Hawks scored in the top of the sixth inning off of a bunt from Eli Camner to tie the game.
The score remained 1-1 until the bottom of the ninth inning. A two-out walk put Lippert on base and he eventually advanced to third and scored off of a single to left Feld by Pallazola to give the Rams the win.