HARTFORD, Conn. – Plymouth State University set season highs for runs and hits in both ends of a Little East Conference (LEC) baseball double header as the Panthers swept Western Connecticut State University at Murren Family Field at DiBenedetto Stadium on the campus of Trinity College on Saturday.
The Panthers banged out a season-high 13 hits to back another strong start by junior
Adrian Siravo (Gilmanton, N.H.) to take game one, 12-5. Senior
Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) and sophomore
Brendan Flynn (Arlington, Mass.) had three hits apiece while junior
Sam Malgeri (Stratham, N.H.) blasted a two-run homer to pace the offense. Siravo struck out seven in 5.1 strong innings to earn the win.
PSU put up another 13 hits in game two, plating a season-high 14 runs in an overpowering 14-1, seven-inning win. Graduate student
Alex Rives (Gilford, N.H.) had three hits, including a pair of doubles, and scored three runs, while Flynn stayed hot with three hits, including a double and triple, and six runs batted in. The outburst was more than enough as senior
Eoin Hamell-Kelleher (Attleboro, Mass.) and sophomore
Alex Noel (Dover, N.H.) combined to allow just four WestConn hits.
Plymouth State jumps to 5-9 (2-3 LEC), while the Wolves slide to 4-17 (0-9 LEC).
The Basics:
- GAME ONE: Plymouth State 12, WestConn 6
- GAME TWO: Plymouth State 14, WestConn 1 (7 Inn.)
- Plymouth State (5-9, 2-3 LEC)
- WestConn (4-17, 0-9 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Plymouth State got out to a good start as Curtis singled with one down and moved up on a balk before classmate Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) drove him in with a base hit for a quick 1-0 lead.
- Curtis and Sokolski both singled in the third and a stolen base put runners on second and third with one down. Flynn followed with a walk to load the bases and Curtis came home on a sac fly off the bat of junior Danny Quinn (Holliston, Mass.) to make it 2-0.
- PSU took advantage of a pair of WestConn errors to tack on a three-spot in the fifth. Sokolski, Flynn and Quinn all drove in runs as the lead grew to 5-0.
- WestConn got a run back in the bottom of the inning and pulled within 5-3 after scoring twice in the sixth.
- Rives sparked a four-run rally with a leadoff double in the seventh. Curtis and Quinn added RBI singles in the inning, while Malgeri drove in two with a double to right to increase the lead to 9-3.
- The Wolves pushed a run across in the bottom of the frame to pull within 9-4.
- Sokolski manufactured a run on his own to start the ninth. He walked, stole second, took third on a wild pitch and scored on a passed ball to restore the six-run lead. Flynn followed with a double and one-out later Malgeri launched his second dinger of the year to make it 12-4.
- WestConn scored twice in its last at bat to account for the final score.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Curtis went 3-for-5 and scored three runs, while Sokolski reached base four times with two singles and a pair of walks. He scored three runs, drove in two and stole a pair of bases.
- Flynn notched a three-hit game with two singles and a double and Quinn drove in three.
- Malgeri went 2-for-5 with a double and homer and four RBIs.
- Siravo struck out seven and allowed just four hits over his 5.1 innings to pick up his second win.
- Freshman Elias Bourque (Nashua, N.H.) went the final 3.2 innings to earn his first career save.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- PSU got out to a quick start again in game two as Rives doubled to start the game. A hit batter and error loaded the bases and two runs came home on Flynn's hit. Two batters later Malgeri smashed a triple to extend the lead to 4-0. Sophomore Andrew Faherty (Phoenix, Ariz.) capped the five-run inning with an RBI single.
- The Panthers added on in the third. Malgeri reached on an error and freshman Josh Worthington (Pownal, Vt.) singled. After a wild pitch advanced the runners, Faherty lofted a sac fly and Rives contributed an RBI single later in the frame to extend the lead to 7-0.
- The Wolves used a two-out RBI triple to plate a run in the bottom half.
- Rives smacked a double after a hit batter and Sokolski's walk loaded the bases with two away in the fifth. Flynn knocked in two more with a double and Quinn made it 10-1 when he reached on an error.
- PSU put the game out of reach in the sixth. A hit batter and error left runners on the corners and junior Scooter Summa (Ellicott City, Md.) drove in a run with a single. Rives reached on a fielder's choice and Curtis walked to load the bases. Sokolski lifted a sac fly to right to make it 12-1 and Flynn's triple brought home two more as the lead ballooned to 14-1.
- Meanwhile, Hamell-Kelleher allowed just one run over the first five innings, while he and Noel combined to surrender just four hits.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Rives went 3-for-6 atop the lineup, scoring three runs in driving in another.
- Flynn had a monster game at the plate with a single, double and triple while driving in six.
- Worthington and Faherty also had multi-hit games as each went 2-for-3.
- Hamell-Kelleher was outstanding in his five innings, striking out eight while allowing just three hits and a run.
- Noel faced eight batters in the final two innings, with five strikeouts.
- The sweep was the Panthers' first over WestConn since 2021.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State visits Gordon College for a non-conference game on Monday (Apr. 15). First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.
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