DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Sophomore
Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) hit a pair of homers and junior
Griffin Crane (Lancaster, N.H.) and sophomore
Joshua Welsh (East Lyme, Conn.) also went deep in game one as Plymouth State University earned a doubleheader split at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in Little East Conference (LEC) baseball action on Saturday.
The Panthers relied on the long ball in the opener, slamming four dingers as part of a 12-hit effort in a 14-0, seven-inning win. Sokolski went deep twice and doubled, scoring three runs and driving in four, while junior
Trey Parker (Lebanon, N.H.) tossed another gem surrendering just five hits over his six shutout innings.
PSU jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in game two, but the Corsairs tied the game in the fourth and went ahead in the eighth. Plymouth State's first two batters reached in the ninth to bring the tying run to the plate, but UMD retired the next three hitters in order to hold on for the 7-4 win.
With the split Plymouth State moves to 14-21 (5-8 LEC), while the Corsairs go to 13-20 and 4-9 in the Little East.
The Basics:
- Game One: Plymouth State 14, UMass Dartmouth 0 (7 Inn.)
- Game Two: Plymouth State 4, UMass Dartmouth 7
- Plymouth State (14-21, 5-8 LEC)
- UMass Dartmouth (13-20, 4-9 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- PSU got out to a quick start as Sokolski ripped a double to left field and, following a ground out, Crane smashed a two-run shot to right.
- Sokolski led off the third with a smash to left to extend the lead to 3-0. Junior Alex Rives (Gilford, N.H.) doubled and Crane was intentionally walked. With one down junior Nick Healey (Campton, N.H.) was walked and a run scored when sophomore Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) reached on a fielder's choice. Welsh followed with a three-run shot to left for a 7-0 advantage.
- Welsh reached on an error to start the sixth and, after a pair of outs, Sokolski ripped his second dinger of the game to make it 9-0.
- The Corsairs loaded the bases with one away in the bottom of the inning, but Parker got a strikeout and ground ball to squash the rally.
- PSU put the game away in the seventh using four singles, a walk, two hit batters and three wild pitches to score five runs.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Sokolski led the offensive onslaught with his four-hit game, blasting two homers and a double to go with a base hit. He drove in four and scored three times.
- Crane (single, homer, walk) reached base three times, drove in three and scored twice, while Rives (double, single) also had two hits.
- Welsh scored three runs and drove in three.
- Parker went six innings, allowing just five hits and two walks while striking out four to improve to 4-2.
- Senior Noah Wachter (Concord, N.H.) closed out the win with a strikeout
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Sokolski singled to start game two and the Panthers loaded the bases on a walk and hit batter. A pair of runs scored on Healey's fielder's choice coupled with a UMD error, and Curtis singled home another run for an early 3-0 lead.
- Healey singled in Crane in the second to extend the margin to 4-0.
- The hosts got a run back in the third, then tied the game in the fourth.
- UMass Dartmouth pulled ahead in the sixth and tacked on a pair of insurance runs with a two-out, two-run single in the eighth.
- Healey walked and Curtis singled to bring the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but the Corsairs escaped the jam by retiring the next three batters.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Curtis finished 3-for-5, while senior Bryan McGrath (Franklin, Mass.) was 2-for-3 with a run scored.
- Freshman Tyler Wright (Concord, N.H.) also had two hits.
- Sokolski reached base three times (single, two walks) and scored a run.
- Junior Bobby Cliche (Stratham, N.H.) took a no decision after allowing four runs (three earned) over the first 4.1 innings. He struck out five.
Up Next:
- PSU welcomes the University of Southern Maine to Parish Field on Tuesday (May 3) for a single LEC game. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
– 30 –
