Salem State Splits MASCAC Doubleheader at Fitchburg State

THE BASICS 

Score: 
GM 1 – Salem State University 7, at Fitchburg State, 5 (7 inn.)
GM 2 – Salem State University 5, at Fitchburg State, 8 (7 inn.)

Records: 
Salem State Vikings (10-11, 6-5 MASCAC)

Fitchburg State Falcons (4-21, 2-11 MASCAC)

Location: Fitchburg, Mass. - Michael P. Richards Field

Date: Saturday, April 11, 2026

THE LEAD – The Salem State baseball team split its Massachusetts State Athletic Conference (MASCAC) doubleheader after topping Fitchburg, 7-5, in the first game while falling in the second, 8-5. Despite the split in the doubleheader, Salem won the series, taking two out of three from the Falcons. 

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 1)

• After a scoreless first from both sides, Fitchburg struck first thanks to an RBI single from Casey Bellew that made it 1-0. Later in the contest in the fifth, the Falcons struck again and pushed their lead to two (2-0) from a Michael Cooper RBI single. 
• However, Salem chipped away and made it a one-run game (2-1) in the sixth after a Nolan Currier (Maynard, Mass.) sacrifice fly. Fitchburg responded in the bottom half of the frame when the hosts tacked on two more runs and grabbed their largest lead of the day (4-1). 
• Even with the large deficit, the Vikings fought back and ended up taking their first lead of the day thanks to a six-run seventh. Ryan Bourgeois (Nashua, N.H.) highlighted the high-scoring inning with a three-run shot. In the bottom of the seventh, Salem pitcher Nick Krompegal (Bristol, Conn.) came in and retired the side and secured the 7-5 win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 1)

• Bourgeois' homer was his first of the season and second of his career.
• Currier tied Bourgeois in RBIs on the day with three of his own. 
• Collin Tenney (Woodbridge, Conn.) ended up getting the win for Salem after going 6.0 IP, allowing nine hits, five runs (4 earned), and striking out three.
• Five different Fitchburg batters recorded an RBI on the day for the hosts (Bellew, Cooper, Tyler Fonck, Maxwell Riordan, and Benjamin Forbes).
• Adam Wholley finished with the no-decision in the start after going 6.1 IP while giving up six hits, five runs, and striking out four.
• Pete Joslyn ended up with the loss for the Falcons after throwing 0.2 IP and allowing three hits and two runs. 
• Salem and Fitchburg ended the contest even in hits with nine.

HOW IT HAPPENED (GM 2)

• Salem continued its strong offense from the first game into the second as the squad struck in the top of the first with a three-run inning. Owen Duggan (Billerica, Mass.) highlighted the inning with an RBI single that made it 2-0 at the time.
• Fitchburgh, though, would answer in the bottom half of the frame and pull within one (3-2) with a two-run bottom of the first. Later in the contest, it ended up taking its first lead of the day (4-3) by combining for two runs in the third and fourth with RBIs from Cooper and Joseph Abt. 
• The hosts continued to extend their lead with a three-run fifth that featured a Jason Kelley two-run RBI single that made it 7-3. However, the Vikes would not go quietly as the Blue and Orange pulled within two (7-5) thanks to RBIs from Bourgeois and Michael Buccaro (Stratford, Conn.). 
• Even with the late momentum, Fitchburg was not phased and pushed the lead back to three with an RBI double off the bat of Forbes. In the final inning, Salem had a chance to tie or take the lead when the squad loaded the bases with two outs. However, Falcons pitcher Shane Daly struck out the next batter and gave Fitchburg an 8-5 win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS (GM 2)

• Five different Vikings batters finished the contest with an RBI (Currier, Duggan, Antonio Belgrove (Stamford, Conn.), Bourgeois, and Buccaro).
• Ethan Hill (Stratford, Conn.) ended up with a no-decision in the contest after going 3.1 IP while allowing five hits, four runs, and striking out four. Meanwhile, Krompegal took the loss after throwing 1.2 IP and allowing three hits, three runs, and striking out two.
• Kelley and Cooper led the Falcons offense with two RBIs each.
• William Ernst ended up with the win after going 5.2 IP and allowing eight hits, five runs, and striking out four.
• Salem has now won its first three-game MASCAC series this season. 
• The Vikings have won the last four three-game sets over Fitchburg State. 

UP NEXT 

Salem returns home to host Bridgewater State on Tuesday, April 14 at 3:00 p.m.