MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Sophomore
Nick Wilson (Mont Vernon, N.H.) and senior
Bobby Cliche (Stratham, N.H.) threw 4.1 scoreless innings to help the Plymouth State University baseball team split a pair of games at the Myrtle Beach College Baseball Spring Training on Wednesday.
Wilson entered a tie game in the fifth against Mount Aloysius College and picked off a runner to end a scoring threat. PSU pushed a run across in the bottom of the frame to take the lead and Wilson went on to retire the first two hitters in the sixth. Cliche took over from there, limiting the Mounties' opportunities to pick up his first save of the year.
In the day's opening game, Rutgers University-Camden pounded out 17 hits in a 17-2 win over the Panthers.
Plymouth State moves to 3-5 on the season. Mount Aloysius goes to 3-6, while Rutgers-Camden ends the day at 5-5.
The Basics:
- Game 1: Plymouth State 2, Rutgers-Camden 17
- Game 2: Plymouth State 8, Mount Aloysius 5
- Plymouth State (3-5)
- Mount Aloysius (3-6)
- Rutgers-Camden (5-5)
How it Happened (Rutgers-Camden):
- Senior Alex Rives (Gilford, N.H.) ripped a two-out double to left in the third, but a groundout ended the threat.
- The Raptors answered with a four-run bottom of the frame.
- Rutgers tacked on a run in the fourth, then pushed the margin to 8-0 with a three-run shot in the fifth.
- Sophomore Scooter Summa (Ellicott City, Md.) singled and freshman Tyler Hicks (Jefferson, N.H.) doubled down the line in the sixth. Both scored when sophomore Owen Baum (Saint Michaels, Md.) reached on an error as PSU pulled within 8-2.
- The Raptors responded with four in the bottom of the frame and Plymouth State was unable to rally.
By the Numbers (Rutgers-Camden):
- Hicks and Rives both had doubles, while Summa, freshman Chris Faherty (Phoenix, Ariz.) and senior Bryan McGrath (Franklin, Mass.) all singled.
- Falcons' pitching didn't surrender a walk.
- The Panthers used six different pitchers, with senior Eoin Hamell-Kelleher (Attleboro, Mass.) getting the start.
How it Happened (Mount Aloysius):
- The Mounties loaded the bases with two away in the top of the first, but sophomore Jason Smith (Charlestown, Mass.) got a key strikeout to end the threat.
- The first four batters of the bottom of the frame all reached as McGrath's single gave PSU a 1-0 lead. Baum followed with a sac fly and senior Nick Healey (Campton, N.H.) added an RBI groundout for a 3-0 advantage.
- Mount Aloysius smacked a grand slam to take the lead in the third.
- Senior Griffin Crane (Lancaster, N.H.) tied the game with an RBI fielder's choice in the bottom of the frame and junior Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) worked a bases-loaded walk to put the Panthers in front an inning later.
- The Mounties answered right back to tie the score in the fifth. Mount Aloysius threatened to pull in front, but Wilson came on and escaped further trouble.
- Rives singled and moved to third after a pair of passed balls and sophomore Danny Quinn (Holliston, Mass.) put Plymouth State back in the lead with a sac fly in the bottom of the inning.
- Wilson retired the first two hitters in the sixth before Cliche came in with a runner on base. He got a ground out to retire the side.
- After Crane doubled in the seventh, an error put runners on the corners and junior Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) singled to extend the lead to 8-5.
- Cliche was in control from there, cruising through the eighth and working around a pair of walks in the ninth to close out the victory.
By the Numbers (Mount Aloysius):
- Baum and Rives each went 2-for-3. Rives scored twice and Baum drove in a run.
- Seven different Panthers recorded an RBI.
- PSU finished with ten hits and drew five free passes.
- Wilson picked up the win in relief, while Cliche recorded his first save of the season after allowing just three baserunners over the final 3.1 innings. He struck out four.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State wraps up its Myrtle Beach trip with a double header against Cairn University on Thursday (Mar. 16).
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