LACONIA, N.H. – Senior
Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) ripped a two-out, two-run triple in the bottom of the ninth and sophomore
Brendan Flynn (Arlington, Mass.) singled in the winning run with two down in the 11th as Plymouth State University split a Little East Conference (LEC) double header against Vermont State University Castleton at Robbie Mills Field on Sunday.
Plymouth State trailed 7-4 heading into the seventh inning of game two, but senior
Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) singled home freshman
Josh Worthington (Pownal, Vt.) to make it a two-run game. PSU opened the bottom of the ninth with back-to-back singles and a sacrifice bunt put the tying runs in scoring position. VTSU Castleton got a ground ball for the second out of the inning, but Sokolski smashed a game-tying triple to right center to send the game to extra innings. Junior
Owen Baum (Saint Michaels, Md.) singled to start the 11th and an error put two runners on. The Spartans recorded back-to-back outs, but Sokolski was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Flynn followed with a clean single to left for the walk-off win. Freshman
Elias Bourque (Nashua, N.H.) was brilliant in relief, allowing just one hit and one walk over six scoreless innings.
It was VTSU Castleton that used a late-inning rally to win the opener. PSU scored four times in the first three innings and junior
Adrian Siravo (Gilmanton, N.H.) was in control early on. The Spartans pulled to 4-3 in the sixth but erupted for five runs in the eighth to pull ahead. Plymouth State clawed back in the bottom of the inning as graduate student
Alex Rives (Gilford, N.H.) led off the inning with a solo shot. The Panthers loaded the bases with one out and a sacrifice fly cut the deficit to 8-6, but VTSU Castleton would use a three-run shot as part of a four-run ninth to secure the win.
Plymouth State moves to 8-12 (4-6 LEC), while the Spartans finish the day at 6-26 (3-8 LEC).
The Basics:
- GAME ONE: Plymouth State 6, VTSU Castleton 12
- GAME TWO: Plymouth State 8, VTSU Castleton 7 (11 Inn.)
- Plymouth State (8-12, 4-6 LEC)
- VTSU Castleton (6-26, 3-8 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Junior Danny Quinn (Holliston, Mass.) pulled an RBI single through the left side as the Panthers took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
- PSU doubled the margin when Rives lofted a sacrifice fly to left in the second to make it 2-0.
- Junior Sam Malgeri (Stratham, N.H.) and graduate student Nick Healey (Campton, N.H.) drove in runs in the third to extend the lead to 4-0.
- VTSU Castleton's first hit was a solo shot to start the fourth but Siravo recovered to retire seven of the next eight batters.
- The Spartans added two runs in the sixth to make it a one-run game, 4-3.
- PSU loaded the bases in the bottom of the inning, but Castleton was able to escape without allowing a run.
- The visitors used a pair of walks to start the eighth and an infield hit loaded the bases. Plymouth State cut down a run at the plate but the next batter knocked a two-run single as the Spartans went in front. After gunning down another runner at home for the second out, the visitors launched a three-run shot for an 8-4 advantage.
- Rives smashed a solo shot to start the bottom of the inning. A hit batter and consecutive singles loaded the bases, but the Spartans got out of the jam allowing just one run on a sacrifice fly as the game went to the ninth with Castleton holding an 8-6 lead.
- The visitors tacked on four insurance runs to put the game out of reach.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Flynn went 4-for-6, while Quinn had three singles in five at bats.
- Rives (single, homer) and Curtis (single, double) also had multi-hit games.
- The Panthers stole five bases and banged out 16 hits.
- Siravo struck out six and allowed just four hits and three runs in his six innings.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Castleton put up a three-spot in the top of the first, but freshman Ryan Morgado (Brentwood, N.H.) launched a two-run homer in the bottom of the second to make it 3-2.
- The Spartans answered back with two runs in the next half inning, but Malgeri's two-run shot in the bottom of the frame cut the margin to 5-4.
- The visitors extended the lead to 7-4 with two in the fifth.
- Curtis singled home Worthington in the seventh to pull within 7-5.
- Morgado and Worthington smacked singles to start the ninth. Rives sacrificed the runners over but Castleton got a ground ball for the second out. Sokolski followed with a triple to right center to tie the game.
- Baum opened the 11th with a single and Worthington reached on an error. The Spartans got two outs, but Sokolski was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Flynn's single secured the 8-7 win.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Bourque was outstanding in relief to earn the win. He needed just 79 pitches to get through six full innings, allowing just three base runners and one hit. He struck out six.
- Morgado homered and singled to finish 2-for-4. He scored a run and drove in two.
- Worthington also had a multi-hit game with a 2-for-5 effort. He scored twice.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State hosts Southern Maine in a conference game on Tuesday (Apr. 23) with first pitch set for 7:00 p.m.
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