PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Bobby Cliche (Stratham, N.H.) and senior
Noah Wachter (Concord, N.H.) combined to allow just five hits in the opener as Plymouth State University split a Little East Conference (LEC) doubleheader against Western Connecticut State University at Parish Field on Friday.
Cliche struck out seven and allowed just a pair of runs in his six-plus innings and Wachter earned the win after striking out four over the final three as PSU used a four-run ninth inning to take the opener, 7-2.
WestConn rebounded from an early deficit with an offensive outburst to earn the split with a 12-2, seven-inning win in game two. Plymouth State pushed across a run and had the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, but the WestConn pitching shut down the rally.
Because the games were originally scheduled to be in Danbury, Conn., WestConn batted as the home team.
Plymouth State moves to 10-17 (2-5 LEC), while WestConn goes to 5-11 and 1-5 in the LEC.
The Basics:
- Game One: Plymouth State 7, WestConn 2
- Game Two: Plymouth State 2, WestConn 12 (7 Inn.)
- Plymouth State (10-17, 2-5 LEC)
- WestConn (5-11, 1-5 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- The game remained scoreless through the first three innings as Cliche held WestConn down with two strikeouts and four groundouts.
- Plymouth State got on the board in the top of the fourth when sophomore Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) walked, stole second and moved to third on an error. He came around to score on a wild pitch.
- The Panthers kept WestConn in check in the fourth and fifth innings, then struck again in the sixth. Curtis doubled and scored on a single from junior Griffin Crane (Lancaster, N.H.) to make it 2-0.
- WestConn answered back with a run in the sixth and tied it in the seventh on a two-out base hit. The batter moved up to second on the throw, but Wachter picked him off to preserve the tie.
- PSU moved back in front in the eighth. Senior Bryan McGrath (Franklin, Mass.) singled and with two outs a hit batter, walk and error gave PSU a 3-2 lead.
- Plymouth State put the game out of reach with four runs in the ninth. Junior Alex Rives (Gilford, N.H.) opened with a double and Curtis followed with a bunt hit with a throwing error allowing a run to score. McGrath added an RBI single and junior Nick Healey (Campton, N.H.) drove in a run with a double and another WestConn error made it 7-2.
- Wachter struck out two in the bottom of the ninth to close out the win.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Curtis reached base three times (single, double, walk) and scored three runs, while McGrath had three hits and a walk.
- Curtis, Rives and sophomore Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) all had stolen bases in the game.
- Crane, McGrath and Healey all recorded RBIs.
- Cliche had seven strikeouts in his six-plus innings, while Wachter came in for the final nine outs, striking out four to earn the win.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- McGrath's double scored Rives to get the Panthers rolling in the top of the first, but he was cut down trying for third.
- WestConn came back with two in the bottom of the inning before pushing the lead to 5-1 through the third.
- WestConn used the long ball to extend the margin to 12-1 after putting up six runs in the sixth.
- PSU attempted to rally in the seventh as a hit batter, walk and single loaded the bases. The Panthers scored one run on a WestConn error, but three straight strikeouts ended the threat.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Rives and Healey both scored runs.
- PSU had five hits in the game – singles from Rives, Sokolski and freshmen Danny Quinn (Holliston, Mass.) and Sam Malgeri (Stratham, N.H.), along with McGrath's double.
- Rives and freshman Tyler Wright (Concord, N.H.) each reached base twice. Rives went 1-for-3 with a walk, while Wright worked a pair of free passes.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State visits the University of Southern Maine on Tuesday (Apr. 19) for an LEC clash with the Huskies at 3:30 p.m.
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