PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Alex Rives (Gilford, N.H.) went 4-for-8 with two runs scored and an RBI as Plymouth State University split a non-conference, seven-inning doubleheader with New England College at Parish Field on Thursday afternoon.
Rives had a pair of hits in four at bats while scoring twice in the opener, while sophomore
Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) picked up a key two-run single in the sixth inning to help the Panthers to an 8-3 win.
Sokolski got the Panthers on the board in the second game with another RBI single and added a two-run base hit to tie the game at 5-5 in the third inning. Rives added another two hits and kicked in a run, but NEC rallied for an 8-5 victory.
With the split Plymouth State moves to 13-20, while the Pilgrims go to 18-13.
The Basics:
- Game One: Plymouth State 8, NEC 3 (7 Inn.)
- Game Two: Plymouth State 5, NEC 8 (7 Inn.)
- Plymouth State (13-20)
- NEC (18-13)
How it Happened (Game One):
- After a sacrifice fly by NEC in the top of the first, Rives reached on an error and stole second before scoring on another Pilgrims' error to tie the game at 1-1.
- Plymouth State went in front when junior Griffin Crane (Lancaster, N.H.) doubled ahead of a two-bagger from classmate Nick Healey (Campton, N.H.) for a 2-1 lead.
- The Pilgrims came back in the second with two runs.
- Senior Bryan McGrath (Franklin, Mass.) singled, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a single from graduate student Peter Laviolette (Longboat Key, Fla.) to even the game at 3-3.
- Rives singled in the fifth, took second on another wild pitch and came around on Crane's double to put PSU in front.
- The Panthers shutout NEC in the sixth inning and added three runs in the bottom of the frame. Freshman Tyler Wright (Concord, N.H.) had an RBI double, while Sokolski singled in a pair for a 7-3 lead. Later in the inning McGrath's sacrifice fly scored Sokolski to make it 8-3.
- PSU turned a 4-6-3 double play to erase a leadoff single in the top of the seventh, before a strikeout ended the game.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Sokolski drove in two runs.
- Rives (double, single), Crane (double, single) and McGrath (single, single) each had two hits, while Healey and Wright added doubles.
- Crane also worked a walk to reach base three times, while sophomore Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) walked twice.
- Freshman Jason Smith (Charlestown, Mass.) improved to 3-1 after striking out four over his five innings of work.
- Sophomore Bryan Gallagher (Wareham, Mass.) and junior Nick Cote (Londonderry, N.H.) each worked a scoreless inning in relief.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- NEC got off to a quick start in game two, using back-to-back one-out singles and a walk to load the bases ahead of a grand slam.
- Sokolski and Rives had RBI singles in the second as PSU cut the margin in half.
- The Pilgrims pushed the lead to 5-2 with a run in the third, but Plymouth State rallied in the bottom half of the inning. Healey smashed a one-out triple to the gap in right center and Curtis' single made it 5-3.
- After a flyout, back-to-back hit batters loaded the bases and Sokolski's single tied the game at 5-5.
- Crane led off the fourth with a double but was stranded at third.
- The Pilgrims retook the lead, 7-5, with a pair in the sixth.
- Rives singled and eventually got to third with two away in the bottom of the inning, but a strike out ended the threat and NEC tacked on an insurance run in the seventh.
- Plymouth State went down in order in the bottom of the inning to end the game.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Sokolski had a big game at the leadoff spot going 2-for-4 while driving in three runs.
- Rives added a pair of hits and an RBI, while Crane (double) and Healey (triple) had PSU's extra base hits.
- Junior Aiden McDonough (Dover, N.H.) racked up three strikeouts over his two innings but took the loss.
- The teams have split the last three season series.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State visits the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for a key Little East Conference twin bill on Saturday (Apr. 30). Game one is set for 12:00 p.m.
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