BOSTON, Mass. – Senior
Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) homered and junior
Sam Malgeri (Stratham, N.H.) ripped an RBI double but the University of Massachusetts Boston used a late rally to slip past Plymouth State University, 7-2, in a Little East Conference (LEC) baseball game at Monan Park on Tuesday.
Malgeri smacked a run-scoring double in the second to give the Panthers an early lead, and Sokolski's solo shot in the sixth made it 2-0. The Beacons rallied into the lead with five two-out runs in the sixth and the hosts tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the eighth to account for the final score.
Plymouth State dips to 9-17 (4-10 LEC), while the Beacons move to 24-12 (13-3 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, UMass Boston 7
- Plymouth State (9-17, 4-10 LEC)
- UMass Boston (24-12, 13-3 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Sophomore Brendan Flynn (Arlington, Mass.) walked to start the second and he moved to third on an error. Malgeri ripped a double to right to bring him in for a 1-0 lead.
- Junior Jason Smith (Charlestown, Mass.) worked out a minor jam in the bottom of the inning, then retired eight straight hitters.
- The Beacons threatened in the fifth with runners on second and third and one down, but Smith induced a comebacker for the second out before getting a big strikeout with the bases loaded to preserve the 1-0 lead.
- Sokolski smacked a solo homer in the next half inning to make it 2-0.
- After a quick first out, the Beacons used a pair of hits and walk to load the bases. Smith got a foul out for the second out of the frame, but the Beacons came up with some clutch hits to jump ahead, 5-2.
- The hosts added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth and PSU was unable to rally.
By the Numbers:
- Sokolski's homer was his fifth of the year.
- Malgeri went 1-for-4 with his RBI double.
- Flynn (single, walk) reached base twice.
- Junior Danny Quinn (Holliston, Mass.) also singled for the Panthers.
- Smith was in control until the two-out rally in the sixth. He struck out four over his 5.2 innings.
- Sophomore Tyler Hicks (Jefferson, N.H.) and freshman Greg Mayo (Boston, Mass.) were strong out of the bullpen. Hicks allowed just a hit and walk in his 1.1 innings, while Mayo needed just six pitches to record three outs.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State visits Colby College for a non-conference game Wednesday (May 1) at 4:00 p.m.
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