KEENE, N.H. – Sophomore
Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) reached base four times in the opener and had three hits, including a pair of home runs, in the nightcap to lead Plymouth State University to a split of a Little East Conference (LEC) baseball doubleheader against Keene State College at the Owl Athletic Complex on Sunday.
The Panthers got out to an early lead in the opener, scoring in three of the first four innings to take a 4-0 lead, but Keene State rallied with eight runs in the sixth through eighth innings to earn the 11-4 victory.
Curtis went deep in the second and fifth innings of game two and senior
Noah Wachter (Concord, N.H.) allowed just one hit over 3.2 scoreless innings of relief as the Panthers rebounded for an 8-5 win.
Plymouth State moves to 9-15 (1-3 LEC), while Keene State goes to 4-15 and 1-3 in the Little East.
The Basics:
- Game One: Plymouth State 4, Keene State 11
- Game Two: Plymouth State 8, Keene State 5
- Plymouth State (9-15, 1-3 LEC)
- Keene State (4-15, 1-3 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Plymouth State struck for a run in the top of the first when Curtis singled with one out, stole second, took third on an error and crossed the plate on a base hit by sophomore Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.).
- The Panthers added two in the third on a run-scoring hit by senior Bryan McGrath (Franklin, Mass.) and a KSC error to push the margin to 3-0.
- PSU made it 4-0 in the fourth after a hit batter and steal put a runner in scoring position for junior Nick Healey (Campton, N.H.), who knocked in the run with a base hit to left.
- Keene sliced into the deficit with a bases loaded, two-out triple in the bottom of the frame to cut the margin to 4-3.
- The Owls used five hits and a PSU miscue to put up four runs in the sixth, then tacked on two more in the seventh to go ahead 9-4.
- Keene State put the game out of reach with another two runs in the eighth to account for the final score.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Curtis reached base four times (two singles, two walks) and scored a pair of runs. He added three stolen bases in the game.
- Sokolski, McGrath and Healey all recorded RBIs.
- Junior Alex Rives (Gilford, N.H.) singled and walked twice.
- Junior Eoin Hamell-Kelleher (Attleboro, Mass.) worked the first four innings, while classmate Ethan Foster (Catskill, N.Y.) was the pitcher of record for the Panthers after going the next 1.1 innings.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Once again PSU snagged an early lead when Sokolski doubled and McGrath knocked him in with two outs in the first.
- The Panthers extended the lead to 5-0 in the second with a sacrifice fly off the bat of Rives and Curtis' three-run blast to right field.
- Keene State came right back with two runs in the bottom of the inning and another in the fourth.
- Rives singled to start the fifth and Curtis launched his second dinger of the game to extend the lead to 7-3, but the Owls got both runs back in the bottom half.
- Curtis picked up his third hit of the game, this time a bunt single, and a throwing error allowed Rives to score all the way from first base as the Panthers pushed the margin to 8-5.
- Keene loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but Wachter got a huge strikeout to maintain the three-run lead and the lefty would keep the Owls off the scoreboard the rest of the way.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Curtis ended up 3-for-5 with two homers, two runs scored and five RBI.
- McGrath had two hits and drove in one while junior Griffin Crane (Lancaster, N.H.) went 2-for-3 with a walk and run scored.
- Junior Bobby Cliche (Stratham, N.H.) picked up his second win of the year after striking out seven and allowing three earned runs over the first 5.1 innings.
- Wachter surrendered just one hit and struck out four over the final 3.2 innings to earn his third save.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State welcomes the University of Massachusetts Boston to Parish Field on Tuesday (Apr. 12). First pitch against the Beacons, who are receiving votes in this week's D3baseball.com/NCBWA Top 25 Poll, is set for 2:30 p.m.
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