FORT MYERS, Fla. – Junior
Trey Parker (Lebanon, N.H.) escaped a bases loaded, none out jam in the top of the first, then settled in to allow just one unearned run over 6.1 innings to lift Plymouth State University to a split with Otterbein University in a double header at the Gene Cusic Collegiate Classic on Saturday.
Otterbein used three straight singles in the top of the first to load the bases, but Parker got a rare 5-2-3 double play and escaped unscathed with a comebacker and the Panthers put a two-spot on the board in the bottom of the inning. Parker cruised from there, giving up just an unearned run in the third while dealing into the seventh before giving way to junior
Eoin Hamell-Kelleher (Attleboro, Mass.), who closed out the win.
The Cardinals took the opener by a 7-1 score.
With the split the Panthers improve to 1-5, while Otterbein ends the day with a 2-2 record.
The Basics:
- Game One: Plymouth State 1, Otterbein 7
- Game Two: Plymouth State 4, Otterbein 1
- Plymouth State (1-5)
- Otterbein (2-2)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Otterbein jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first as the first five batters reached safely.
- Plymouth State cut into the deficit in the third when junior Alex Rives (Gilford, N.H.) reached on a three-base error and scampered home on a ground out to make it 4-1.
- The Cardinals would tack on a run in the fourth.
- Rives smoked a two-out double to left in the fifth but was stranded as the next hitter lined out sharply to center.
- Otterbein added a pair of insurance runs with a two-out double in the fifth and would hold the Panthers down the rest of the way.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Sophomore Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) had two of the Panthers' three hits, including a double.
- Junior Bobby Cliche (Stratham, N.H.) took the loss after going the first four innings.
- Sophomores Sam Dyckman (Pembroke, Mass.) and Connor Philbrick (Jericho, Vt.) and junior Ethan Foster (Catskill, N.Y.) combined to allow just one hit over the final two innings.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Parker got into early trouble as the first three batters of the game poked singles through the infield, but he rebounded with a sharp ground ball to third to cut down a run at the plate before doubling the batter off at first, and a comebacker ended the threat.
- PSU loaded the bases in the bottom of the frame and junior Griffin Crane (Lancaster, N.H.) delivered a two-run single to put the Panthers on the board.
- Otterbein scratched an unearned run across in the top of the third to cut the Panthers' lead in half, 2-1, but freshman Owen Baum (Saint Michaels, Md.) doubled with two away in the bottom half and Crane came up with another clutch hit to make it 3-1.
- Rives and Curtis smacked back-to-back singles to start the bottom of the fifth and a run came home on an Otterbein error to push the margin to 4-1.
- Parker retired the first batter in the seventh before surrendering a single and Hamell-Kelleher came on to get a strike out and fly out to pick up the save.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Crane went 2-for-3 with three RBI to pace the offense.
- Rives scored a pair of runs in the leadoff spot, while Curtis had the Panthers' lone extra base hit.
- Curtis stole two bases.
- Parker ended up striking out four over 6.1 innings and allowing just the one unearned run.
- Hamell-Kelleher got the final two outs for his first career save.
Up Next:
- The Panthers face Augustana College tomorrow (Mar. 6) at 3:00 p.m.
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