CASTLETON, Vt. – Plymouth State University scored 25 runs and banged out 28 hits but had to settle for a split of a Little East Conference (LEC) baseball double header at Castleton University on Saturday.
Plymouth State used a pair of big innings and survived a late Castleton rally to take the opener, 10-9. PSU scored four in the third, then added a five-spot in the seventh to take a 9-4 lead. Castleton closed to within 9-8 in the eighth, but senior
Griffin Crane (Lancaster, N.H.) lofted a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth to make it 10-8. Castleton scored once and had the tying and winning runs in scoring position with nobody out in the home half of the inning, but senior
Eoin Hamell-Kelleher (Attleboro, Mass.) worked out of the jam to hold on for the win.
The fireworks were just getting started, though, as game two turned into a heavyweight fight. Castleton jumped out to a 3-0 first inning advantage and was up 5-2 heading to the fourth. PSU scored three in the fourth and fifth innings to take an 8-7 lead and each team scored a pair of runs in the sixth. The Spartans seemed to put the game out of reach with a seven-run seventh to go up 16-10, but PSU fired back with five runs in the eighth and had the tying run on second when the third out was recorded, and the game was called due to darkness. Freshman
Tyler Hicks (Jefferson, N.H.) went 4-for-5 with two home runs, three runs scored and seven RBI in the outburst.
Plymouth State moves to 9-15 (2-8 LEC), while Castleton goes to 13-17 and 3-8 in conference play.
The Basics:
- Game 1: Plymouth State 10, Castleton 9
- Game 2: Plymouth State 15, Castleton 16 (8 Inn.)
- Plymouth State (9-15, 2-8 LEC)
- Castleton (13-17, 3-8 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- The Spartans took a 2-0 lead in the second but PSU answered right back with a four-run top of the third. Sophomore Owen Baum (Saint Michaels, Md.) singled and stole second and classmate Scooter Summa (Ellicott City, Md.) reached on an error. Junior Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) drove in one with a double and classmate Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) tied the game on a sacrifice fly. Freshman Aidan Ponder (Merrimack, N.H.) and Crane followed with run-scoring hits to make it 4-2.
- The Spartans used a two-run shot to pull even in the sixth, but again PSU answered right back. Baum walked and senior Alex Rives (Gilford, N.H.) reached on an error. Curtis singled in a run and Sokolski was intentionally walked to load the bases. Crane knocked in a pair to make it 7-4 and junior Joshua Welsh (East Lyme, Conn.) reached on an infield hit and a Castleton throwing error allowed two runs to score to push the advantage to 9-4.
- Castleton rallied for four runs in the eighth.
- Curtis and Sokolski singled to start the ninth and a wild pitch moved them both into scoring position. Crane drove in another run on a sac fly and PSU loaded the bases with two down, but a pop out ended the threat.
- Castleton loaded the bases with none out in the bottom of the inning and a wild pitch made it a one-run game, 10-9, with the winning run on second. Hamell-Kelleher wriggled out of the jam, though, getting g strikeout and pop up before issuing an intentional walk to load the bases. A pop up to first sealed the win.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Curtis went 3-for-5 with a double, three runs scored and two RBI, while Crane finished 2-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored.
- Sokolski, Baum and sophomore Sam Malgeri (Stratham, N.H.) each singled and walked.
- Senior Trey Parker (Meriden, N.H.) earned the win after striking out three over 6.2 innings.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Castleton raced out to a 3-0 lead in the first, but Hicks blasted a two-run shot in the second to make it 3-2.
- The Spartans added single runs in the second and third, but PSU used a two-out rally to tie the game in the fourth. Malgeri and Hicks singled, and Baum drove them both in with a base hit. Summa followed with a hit and a Castleton error allowed the tying run to score.
- The hosts went right back in the lead, 6-5, with a run in the bottom of the frame, but once again Plymouth State responded. Sokolski pulled a one-out single to left and moved up on a ground out before Healey drove him in to tie the score. Malgeri beat out an infield hit, and Hicks came through once again with a two-run hit to give the Panthers an 8-6 advantage.
- Castleton got a run back in the bottom of the inning to make it 8-7 after five innings.
- PSU added two runs on consecutive bases loaded walks in the sixth to make it 10-7, but the hosts answered with two runs in the bottom of the frame.
- The Spartans used four hits and a pair of PSU miscues to plate seven runs in the seventh for a 16-10 advantage.
- Healey singled and Malgeri walked to open the eighth, before Hicks smashed a three-run shot to left. The Panthers loaded the bases and Sokolski singled to pull within 16-14. PSU stole another run with smart baserunning to allow Curtis to score with Sokolski, the tying run, moving to second, but a strikeout ended the inning, and it was too dark to continue safely.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Hicks had a career day, blasting a pair of dingers as part of a 4-for-5 effort. He drove in seven runs, scored three and added a pair of stolen bases.
- Malgeri reached base five times with three singles and two walks in three official at bats. He scored four runs.
- Summa also had a three-hit game, while Healey and Sokolski each singled twice and scored two runs.
- Hamell-Kelleher was charged with the loss despite surrendering just one earned run in his inning of work.
- The teams have split the last four series.
Up Next:
- The Panthers host UMass Boston for a league game on Tuesday (Apr. 25) at 3:00 p.m.
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