GORHAM, Maine – Junior
Bobby Cliche (Stratham, N.H.) allowed just one hit and faced only one over the minimum in four sparkling innings of relief, but the University of Southern Maine quieted Plymouth State University, 9-0, in a Little East Conference (LEC) baseball game at Ed Flaherty Field on Monday.
The Huskies took advantage of a pair of PSU errors in the third to snag a 3-0 lead, then pushed six runs across in the fourth to put the game out of reach. Cliche came on in the fifth to retire the side in order. He issued a leadoff walk in the sixth, but the baserunner was erased on a caught stealing, and USM's only other baserunner, a one-out single in the seventh, was wiped out on a double play.
Plymouth State slips to 10-18 (2-6 LEC), while Southern Maine moves to 12-14 and 5-4 in the Little East.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 0, Southern Maine 9
- Plymouth State (10-18, 2-6 LEC)
- Southern Maine (12-14, 5-4 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Sophomore Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) pulled a two-out double down the left field line in the first, but the Huskies got a strikeout to strand him at second.
- Junior Nick Healey (Campton, N.H.) singled with one down in the second, but a double play ball ended the inning.
- USM put two runners in scoring position with one down in the third to knock starting pitcher Eoin Hamell-Kelleher (Attleboro, Mass.) out of the game. The Huskies greeted reliever Trey Parker (Lebanon, N.H.) with a single to plate a pair and an error allowed the batter to reach third. Later in the inning a ground out made it 3-0.
- The hosts exploded for six runs in the fourth, using six hits and a pair of Panthers' miscues to build a big lead.
- Junior Griffin Crane (Lancaster, N.H.) attempted to start a PSU rally in the fifth with his leadoff single, but that was the last baserunner the Panthers would have.
- Cliche came on in the bottom of the inning and worked a one-two-three frame. In the sixth he allowed a leadoff walk, but the runner was erased when Healey fired a strike to sophomore Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) at second base for a caught stealing.
- Cliche allowed a one-out single in the seventh but induced a double play ball to close the frame and the Huskies went three-up, three-down in the eighth.
- Unfortunately for the Panthers, the USM staff was just as efficient, not allowing for PSU to get back in the game.
By the Numbers:
- Hamell-Kelleher went 2.1 innings, with Parker pitching through the fourth.
- Cliche needed just 48 pitches to cruise through his four innings of work. He struck out three and allowed just a single and walk.
- PSU was held to three hits: Sokolski's double and singles from Crane and Healey.
- Southern Maine has been a thorn in the side of the Panthers, winning each of the last eight matchups.
Up Next:
- The Panthers look to get back on track when they host Castleton University for an LEC twin bill on Saturday (Apr. 23). Game one is set for a 1:00 p.m. start.
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