PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) had a career-high four hits but the University of Southern Maine used the longball to top Plymouth State University, 13-2, in a Little East Conference (LEC) baseball game at Parish Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Plymouth State opened the first two innings with back-to-back hits but was unable to get a run across. Trailing 4-0 in the third, a leadoff walk and Curtis' second hit of the day set up the Panthers, and an RBI single and sacrifice fly cut the deficit in half.
The Huskies slammed three home runs during a nine-run sixth inning to put the game out of reach.
Plymouth State slips to 7-14 (1-7 LEC), while the Huskies go to 10-15 and 5-4 in conference play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, Southern Maine 13 (7 Inn.)
- Plymouth State (7-14, 1-7 LEC)
- Southern Maine (10-15, 5-4 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Plymouth State threatened in each of the first two innings but couldn't push a run across. Senior Alex Rives (Gilford, N.H.) and Curtis had back-to-back hits to start the first, but were stranded, and junior Joshua Welsh (East Lyme, Conn.) and sophomore Danny Quinn (Holliston, Mass.) singled to start the second but couldn't advance.
- Southern Maine got an unearned run in the second, then used a two-out rally to make it 4-0 in the top of the third.
- Rives walked and Curtis to open the third before junior Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) smacked an RBI single. A hit batter loaded the bases and Welsh's sacrifice fly cut the deficit to 4-2.
- Freshman Tyler Hicks (Jefferson, N.H.) gave up a walk to start the fourth but induced a double play ball on the next batter and proceeded to retire the next four hitters in a row.
- Curtis ripped his third hit of the game into right centerfield and moved to second on an error when the right fielder couldn't come up with the ball cleanly, but he was stranded at second.
- The Huskies blew the game open with a nine-run sixth inning to go ahead, 13-2.
- Freshman Scooter Summa (Ellicott City, Md.) singled to open the seventh, but he was erased on a double play. Curtis followed with his fourth hit before a ground ball ended the game.
By the Numbers:
- Curtis finished 4-for-4 with four singles, a run scored and a stolen base for his first career four-hit game.
- Over his last four games, Curtis is 11-for-17 (.647) with two doubles, seven runs scored and three RBI.
- Rives went 1-for-3 with a single and drew PSU's lone walk.
- Hicks worked into the sixth inning.
- Sophomore Aaron Kent (Keene, N.H.) worked a scoreless inning with two strikeouts.
Up Next:
- The Panthers stay at home for a non-conference tilt against Colby-Sawyer on Thursday (Apr. 20). First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
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