LEWISTON, Maine – Plymouth State University scored twice and had the tying runs on base with one down in the ninth inning, but the Bates College shortstop snagged a screaming line drive off the bat of sophomore
Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) and the Bobcats turned two to stave off the Panthers, 6-4, in a non-conference baseball game ag Leahey Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Bates jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but sophomore
Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) smashed a two-run shot in the fifth to cut into the deficit. Trailing 6-2 entering the ninth, the Panthers used a hit by pitch, error and single to plate one run and another error made it 6-4 and put the tying runs on base. Curtis smashed the first delivery he saw, but the Bates shortstop made a leaping catch and doubled off the baserunner at second to end the game.
Plymouth State dips to 7-14, while Bates improves to 4-14.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, Bates 6
- Plymouth State (7-14)
- Bates (4-14)
How it Happened:
- Freshman Jason Smith (Charlestown, Mass.) escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the first after allowing just a single run on a sacrifice fly.
- Plymouth State got a pair of runners on in the second, but both were stranded. The Panthers rallied with two away in the third as well, after Curtis worked a walk and Sokolski singled, but again Bates escaped unscathed.
- The hosts extended the lead with a three-run homer in the bottom of the inning, then tacked on another run in the fourth.
- PSU cut into the deficit in the fifth when Curtis walked with two down and Sokolski followed with a deep blast to left field to make it 5-2.
- Bates would add a run in the eighth to make it a four-run game.
- Sophomore Joshua Welsh (East Lyme, Conn.) was hit to start the ninth and junior Griffin Crane (Lancaster, N.H.) reached on an error. A passed ball moved the runners up and junior Nick Healey (Campton, N.H.) had a pinch-hit infield single to drive in a run.
- After a strikeout, another Bates miscue put allowed a run to score and put the tying runners on base, setting up the Bobcats' dramatic twin killing to end the game.
By the Numbers:
- Sokolski went 2-for-4 with a run scored and two RBI.
- Curtis and Crane each walked twice.
- Smith allowed four runs over the first three innings to take the loss.
- Junior Ethan Foster (Catskill, N.Y.) was the Panthers' best reliever, striking out two in his one inning of work.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State kicks off its home slate against Northern Vermont University-Lyndon on Wednesday (Apr. 6) with a 3:00 p.m. first pitch.
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