MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Junior
Scooter Summa (Ellicott City, Md.) pounded out three hits and drove in five runs as Plymouth State University toppled the University of Hartford, 11-2, in the first of two games at the Myrtle Beach College Baseball Spring Training at Polo Grounds on Wednesday.
The Panthers fell to Wells College, 10-3, in the second game of the afternoon.
Plymouth State took a 1-0 lead in the second before erupting during a five-run third to take control against Hartford. Summa drove in a pair of runs with a single up the middle in the third, before his bases-loaded triple in the seventh put the game out of reach.
It was Wells that scored early in the second game of the day as the Express pushed two across in the first before scoring five times in the second. PSU plated single runs in the third and fifth to creep back into the game but Wells added a three-spot in the seventh to secure the win.
Plymouth State moves to 1-3, while Hartford goes to 3-6. Wells ends the day with a 6-6 mark.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 11, Hartford 2
- Plymouth State 3, Wells 10
- Plymouth State (1-3)
- Hartford (3-6)
- Wells (6-6)
How it Happened (Hartford):
- The Panthers loaded the bases in the second on a single, double and fielder's choice and graduate student Alex Rives (Gilford, N.H.) drove in the game's first run with another fielder's choice for a 1-0 lead.
- Senior Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) singled and stole second to open the third and back-to-back walks loaded the bases. Sophomore Brendan Flynn (Arlington, Mass.) was hit by a pitch to score another run and graduate student Nick Healey (Campton, N.H.) made it 3-0 with a sacrifice fly. Summa added to the damage with a two-run single and Rives drove in his second run of the game with a base hit to push the margin to 6-0.
- PSU threatened to add to the lead in the fourth as Sokolski singled and junior Sam Malgeri (Stratham, N.H.) doubled, but the Hawks escaped without allowing another run.
- Hartford's first real scoring chance came in the fifth when the Hawks loaded the bases with one out on a hit batter and consecutive singles, but junior Adrian Siravo (Gilmanton, N.H.) induced a double play to preserve the 6-0 lead.
- Flynn's walk, Healey's single and a hit by pitch loaded the bases in the seventh, and Summa followed with a bases-clearing triple to push the advantage to 9-0.
- Hartford got a run back in the bottom of the seventh, but Sokolski led off the eighth with a blast to left field to make it 10-1.
- PSU added a run in the top of the ninth on a Hawks' error and Hartford scored a single run in its last at bat to account for the 11-2 final.
By the Numbers (Hartford):
- Summa went 3-for-5 with a double, triple, two runs scored and five RBI.
- Sokolski also had a three-hit game with a home run and two singles and two runs scored.
- Flynn reached base four times (single, walk, two hit by pitches) and scored three times.
- Siravo scattered 11 hits in his eight innings of work to pick up the win. He struck out four.
- Junior Andrew Baxter (Thornton, N.H.) worked a clean ninth to close out the game.
How it Happened (Wells):
- Wells used a two-out rally to score twice in the first.
- Sokolski tucked a two-out double inside the left field line in the bottom of the frame but was stranded there.
- The Express struck for a five-spot in the second to push the margin to 7-0.
- Junior Owen Baum (Saint Michaels, Md.) singled and later scored on a throwing error to get the Panthers on the board in the third.
- PSU threatened again in the fourth. Malgeri smacked a double and Flynn's single put runners on the corners, but again Wells got out of the jam unscathed.
- Baum was hit by a pitch in the fifth and moved around the bases on a ground out and passed ball before scoring on an error to pull within 7-2. Rives walked and Summa singled as the Panthers pushed for more, but a strikeout and ground ball ended the rally.
- Wells struck for three more in the seventh to make it 10-2.
- Junior Danny Quinn (Holliston, Mass.) smacked his second long ball of the season in the bottom of the eighth to account for the final score.
By the Numbers (Wells):
- Quinn went 2-for-4 at the dish with a homer and a single.
- Sokolski and Malgeri had PSU's other extra base hits with a double apiece.
- The Panthers' bullpen didn't allow an earned run over the final seven innings. Junior Ryan Williams (Merrimack, N.H.) struck out six over his 4.1 innings but surrendered three unearned runs. Classmate Steven Geiger (Tucson, Ariz.) struck out the side in the ninth.
Up Next:
- The Panthers play two against St. Joseph's of Long Island on Thursday (Mar. 14). First pitch for the opener is set for noon, with game two to follow at 3:00 p.m.
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