MANSFIELD, Conn. – Freshman Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) had a pair of hits and drove in two runs during a six-run fourth inning to lead Plymouth State University to a split with Eastern Connecticut State University in a non-conference double header at Eastern Baseball Stadium on Saturday.
 
After the Warriors took the opener by an 8-4 margin, PSU rebounded to earn the split with a 7-3 win in game two. Sophomore starter Ryan Hurlbert (Middletown, Conn.) helped quiet an ECSU offense that had scored 49 runs over the team's previous four games, pitching into the sixth inning and allowing just two runs.
 
Plymouth State (1-3) is off until April 9, when Keene State is slated to come to Parish Field for the Panthers' home opener, while ECSU (6-1) hosts Western Connecticut State on Wednesday (Mar. 31).
 
The Basics:

• Game 1: Plymouth State 4, Eastern Conn. St. 8
• Game 2: Plymouth State 7, Eastern Conn. St. 3
  • Plymouth State (1-3)
  • Eastern Connecticut St. (6-1)

 
How it Happened (Game One):

• Eastern Connecticut used a two-run blast to go ahead in the second inning, but the Panthers came back in the bottom of the frame.
• Sophomore Nick Healey (Campton, N.H.) led off the inning with a single and graduate student Andrew Salta (Laconia, N.H.) doubled down the left field line. Healey came home on an RBI groundout and senior Joe Routhier (Nashua, N.H.) tied the game with a two-out single.
• ECSU went right back in front with a run in the third, then broke the game open with a five-run fourth to seize an 8-2 lead.
• Routhier drove in the third PSU run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh and sophomore Richie Marique (Derry, N.H.) scored on a wild pitch to make it 8-4.
• The Panthers got runners on in both the eighth and ninth innings but were unable to cut into the margin.

By the Numbers (Game One):

• Seven different Panthers had base hits, with A. Salta and Sokolski both doubling.
• Sokolski added a walk to reach twice, while graduate student James Salta (Laconia, N.H.) singled and walked.
• Graduate student Mark Berryman (Lancaster, N.H.) took the loss (0-1) after working the first 4.1 innings. Sophomores Ethan Foster (Athens, N.Y.), Aiden McDonough (Dover, N.H.) and Chris Hanna (Kingston, N.H.) were excellent in relief, combining to go the final 4.2 innings and allowing just three baserunners.

 
How it Happened (Game Two):

• The Warriors went ahead in the second as a runner scampered home on a passed ball.
• Plymouth State erupted for a six-run fourth to jump into the lead. Sokolski, junior Drew Metzdorf (Burlington, Mass.) and J. Salta strung together three straight hits, with Salta's base knock scoring two runs.
• A. Salta added an RBI single and an ECSU error made it 4-1. Sokolski capped the scoring with a two-run single to extend the advantage to 6-1.
• The Warriors used a two-out rally to get a run back in the sixth, but the Panthers got the run right back in the bottom of the inning to make it 7-2.
• Eastern Connecticut scratched out a run in the eighth, but Metzdorf set down the Warriors in order in the ninth to earn the split.

By the Numbers (Game Two):

• Sokolski reached base three times atop the PSU lineup with two singles and a walk, while driving in two.
• J. Salta added a pair of RBI, while A. Salta and Routhier each singled and walked.
• Hurlbert picked up the win (1-0) with 5.2 innings of two-run ball. Classmate Braxton Brown (Lancaster, N.H.) worked a scoreless inning, sophomore Ryan Conklin (Middletown, Conn.) allowed a run in his 0.2 innings, and Metzdorf closed out the victory by allowing just a walk over the final 1.2 innings.

 
Up Next:

• The Panthers are off until a week from Friday (Apr. 9), when Keene State comes to Parish Field for a Little East Conference (LEC) double header.