FITCHBURG, Mass. – Junior
Trey Parker (Lebanon, N.H.) scattered four hits in the opener and classmate
Griffin Crane (Lancaster, N.H.) drove in five runs in the nightcap as Plymouth State University took both ends of a non-conference doubleheader at Fitchburg State University on Saturday afternoon.
Plymouth State ripped six two-baggers and Parker went the distance as the Panthers took game one by a 7-2 margin.
Crane had three hits, including his first home run of the year, and drove in five runs as PSU poured it on in game two, taking a 10-3 lead before the umpires called the game in the top of the seventh due to weather.
Plymouth State improves to 7-9, while Fitchburg State drops to 2-14.
The Basics:
- Game One: Plymouth State 7, Fitchburg State 2 (7 Inn.)
- Game Two: Plymouth State 10, Fitchburg State 3 (6 Inn.)
- Plymouth State (7-9)
- Fitchburg State (2-14)
How it Happened (Game One):
- The Falcons plated a run in the bottom of the first on a two out rally and held the lead heading into the fourth inning.
- Plymouth State put up a crooked number in the fourth, though. Sophomore Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) and senior Bryan McGrath (Franklin, Mass.) opened the frame with back-to-back doubles to tie the game at 1-1.
- Sophomore Joshua Welsh (East Lyme, Conn.) ripped a one-out double to give PSU the lead and after a walk, Crane singled in a pair for a 4-1 lead. Crane stole second, then came around to score on a single from freshman Danny Quinn (Holliston, Mass.) as the Panthers pushed the lead to 5-1.
- The hosts got a run a run back in the bottom of the frame, but junior Nick Cote (Londonderry, N.H.) restored the four-run lead with a bases loaded sacrifice fly the next half inning.
- Sokolski ripped his second double of the contest to drive in sophomore Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) in the sixth and that was more than enough run support for Parker.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Six of the Panthers' 10 hits were doubles, with Sokolski and McGrath each doubling twice.
- Eight of the nine batters had at least one base hit.
- Crane had a pair of runs batted in, while McGrath scored twice.
- Parker went the distance, striking out five and allowing just four hits over his seven innings of work to even his record at 2-2.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- The Panthers used another big inning to build an early lead in game two. After a quick first inning, a hit batter, single and walk loaded the bases in the top of the second with nobody out. Junior Nick Healey (Campton, N.H.) drove in a run when he was plunked, and Crane doubled to right to push two more runs across.
- Curtis drove in a run with a ground out and Sokolski beat out an infield hit to push the lead to 5-0.
- Crane ripped a one-out RBI single to right in the third to extend the margin to 6-0.
- Plymouth State broke it open in the fourth with another four runs. Healey drove in two with a double and Crane followed with his first home run of the season as the lead ballooned to 10-0.
- The hosts pushed across a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame and cut the deficit to 10-3 with a run in the sixth.
- Quinn and junior Alex Rives (Gilford, N.H.) opened the seventh with singles and Cote drove them both in with a base hit to make it 12-3, at which point the umpires called the game. By rule the game reverted back to the last completed inning, meaning PSU's top of the seventh didn't count in the official game statistics.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Crane went 3-for-4 with a double and homer, driving in five and scoring a pair of runs.
- Plymouth State banged out 13 hits in the win. Healey and freshman Owen Baum (Saint Michaels, Md.) had two-hit games.
- Freshman Jason Smith (Charlestown, Mass.) improved to 2-0 on the mound, throwing six innings and allowing just three runs.
Up Next:
- The Panthers travel to Standish, Maine for a non-conference twin bill with Saint Joseph's College of Maine on Sunday (Mar. 27) starting at noon.
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