(Box Score) 

            NORTHFIELD, Vt. - Sophomore Ben DiZoglio (Hudson, N.H./Alvirne) had three hits and knocked in four runs in the last three innings Monday afternoon as the Plymouth State University baseball team exploded and defeated Norwich University, 17-5, at Garrity Field.

            The Panthers broke open a one-run game with 11 runs in the top of the ninth inning to make the final score a bit misleading. The contest was actually scoreless through five innings of play, and the Panthers led just 6-5 as the game moved to the ninth inning.

            The first five innings were a pitchers' duel between Norwich junior David Wygonski (Vernon Hills, Ill.) and PSU freshman Jonathan Bishop (Woburn, Mass.). Wygonski was perfect through three innings, striking out seven of the first nine Panthers he faced, while Bishop worked out of jams in three of the first five frames. Bishop earned his first career win after working six-and-two-thirds innings and allowing just three earned runs while striking out four.

            PSU broke the scoreless deadlock with two runs in the sixth inning on a two-run double by junior Garrett Brewer (Rutland, Vt.). Norwich answered with a manufactured run in the bottom of the sixth, and then both teams plated four runs in the seventh inning.  Sophomore Bryant Lausberg (Somersworth, N.H.) contributed a two-run single and DiZoglio drew a bases load walk to highlight the Panther rally.  Sophomore Travis Dyke (Lewiston, Maine), junior Donovan Brown (Corona, Calif.), and freshmen Sean Stone (Wilder, Vt.) and Joe Sleeman (Rochester, N.Y.) all connected for RBI singles in the frame to pull the Cadets to within one, 6-5.

            Neither team scored in the eighth inning, but Plymouth State piled it on in the ninth. The Panthers sent 16 men to the plate in the inning, and 11 of them scored. DiZoglio hit a two-run double, junior Anthony Fallacaro (Niskayuna, N.Y.), Lausberg and DiZoglio all had RBI singles, and Brewer finished it off with an RBI triple.  PSU managed only six hits in the frame, but Norwich aided the Panthers' cause with four more fielding errors.

            The game was a little sloppy, as the Cadets (0-21-1) finished with nine errors, leading to 13 unearned runs, while PSU (8-13) committed four miscues.

            PSU returns to Little East Conference play Tuesday with a make-up game at the University of Southern Maine (4:00 p.m.)  Norwich returns to action Tuesday when the Cadets host in-state rival Castleton in a non-conference doubleheader at 2:00 p.m. 

(Courtesy of Norwich Sports Information)   

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