Baseball splits doubleheader against Buccaneers

Adrien Gobin / THE GATEPOST

By Izabela Gage Sports Editor The Framingham State Rams came back from a 4-0 deficit to win the first game 5-4, then dropped the second 7-3 in a doubleheader against the Mass. Maritime Buccaneers April 7. This win and loss bring their conference record to 1-9 and their overall record to 3-15. The Buccaneers wasted no time and capitalized on early opportunities at the top of the first inning. After a walk and a stolen base, their next batter singled to right field and advanced to second on an error by the Rams. The next swing was a home run, bringing in all three runners for a 3-0 lead. They added another run on a ground ball to put them up 4-0. Framingham responded quickly in the bottom half. Sophomore Christian Cox earned a walk, junior Johnny Lynch hit a single, and sophomore Nicholas Kutcher drove in the Rams’ first run with a single of his own. Sophomore Rosco Palmer added a sacrifice fly, and Lynch made it home to cut the deficit to 4-2. After a quiet second inning, pitcher Josh Sunderland, a senior, kept the Buccaneers scoreless in the top of the third. Sunderland tallied his 100th career strikeout in this win. Sunderland said he’s been dealing with a shoulder injury, so achieving this “felt awesome. “I never really thought about it much until this year, and seeing how close I was to getting it done. In-game, I had no idea I had hit 100 - it was only after that I found out,” he added. He said, “I’m happy that I was able to get it done, and also for the team’s win.” Sunderland said, “Battling in games with the team is the best way to play this sport. Team accomplishments come first, and with that come the solo ones as well.” Cox singled to right field at the bottom of the third before stealing second. Kutcher then advanced to second on an error, and Cox scored unearned. The Rams’ defense prevented Mass. Maritime from scoring in the fourth inning. After two outs for Framingham, junior Colin Johnson earned a walk, stole second, and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Sophomore Massimo Mondi followed with a single, and Johnson made it home to tie the game 4-4. Freshman pitcher August Hayes held down on the mound to keep the score tied, but the Rams went down in order in the bottom of the fifth. The sixth inning was uneventful for both teams, and Framingham’s defense was strong at the top of the seventh. Though the Buccaneers made another hit, the Rams did not let them get into scoring position. At the bottom of the seventh inning, Cox walked before Kutcher singled to center field, allowing Cox to advance to third. Palmer and freshman Ryder Brown earned a walk each, and Cox scored to take the first-game win 5-4. Cox said his mindset going into his last at-bat “was getting on base for the team. I was fortunate enough to grind out a walk.” He credited his teammates for putting him in a scoring position to make the game-winning run. Cox said, “This comeback says a lot about this team. We are all hungry for that win, and to chip away all game was an electric feeling.” After a scoreless first inning in the second game, the Buccaneers had two hits by pitch and a series of fielders’ choices, which led to a run in the second. Framingham answered quickly, with junior Scott Paquette delivering a clutch two-out double to give the Rams a 2-1 lead. The momentum shifted in the third, when Mass. Maritime capitalized on errors, scoring two unearned runs. Later in the inning, a fielder’s choice allowed another run, and soon after, the Buccaneers stole home unearned. The Rams attempted to respond in the fourth inning, cutting the deficit to 5-3 after another Paquette RBI single. The fifth inning was quiet for both teams, and the Buccaneers then added unearned insurance runs in the sixth, scoring on errors. Despite Framingham making two hits in the bottom of the sixth and one in the seventh, they were unable to convert, and the game ended 7-3 in favor of the Buccaneers. The Rams fell to the Gordon College Lions 11-5 April 8, bringing their overall record to 3-16, while their conference record remains 1-9. Most recently, Framingham lost 16-8 to the Worcester State Lancers at home April 9. This loss brings their conference record to 1-10 and their overall record to 3-17. The Rams travel to face the MCLA Trailblazers for another conference matchup April 11.