MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Graduate student
Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) had a three-hit game to spark Plymouth State University to a 12-7 win over McDaniel College at the Myrtle Beach College Baseball Spring Training on Wednesday. PSU dropped its second game of the day, falling to Mt. Aloysius College by an 8-5 score.
Plymouth State scored in each of the first four innings to build a 5-1 lead over the Green Terror. The Panthers put the game away with a seven-run sixth. Junior
Brendan Flynn (Arlington, Mass.) got it started with an RBI double, and PSU drew two bases-loaded walks in the frame. Senior
Danny Quinn (Holliston, Mass.) capped the big inning with a run-scoring single and PSU fought off McDaniel's comeback attempt.
Graduate student
Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) went deep in the top of the first against Mt. Aloysius, but the Mounties led 6-1 after three. The teams traded runs in the middle innings, and PSU entered the ninth trailing 8-3. The Panthers fought back, pushing two runs across and putting the tying run on deck with just one out, but the Mounties' closer came on to record the final two outs and squash PSU's rally.
With the split, Plymouth State moves to 2-5. McDaniel goes to 6-9-1, while Mt. Aloysius improves to 11-3.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 12, McDaniel 7
- Plymouth State 5, Mt. Aloysius 8
- Plymouth State (2-5)
- McDaniel (6-9-1)
- Mt. Aloysius (11-3)
How it Happened (McDaniel):
- Sophomore Josh Worthington (Pownal, Vt.) singled to start the bottom of the first. He moved up on an error and wild pitch, then came home on a sacrifice fly from Flynn for an early 1-0 lead.
- McDaniel pulled even in the second.
- PSU answered right back in the bottom of the inning. Curtis singled but was erased on a fielder's choice. Back-to-back walks loaded the bases, and freshman Anthoney Cooley (Brunswick, Maine) scored on a passed ball for a 2-1 lead.
- Plymouth State tacked on two more runs in the third. Sokolski singled, and Flynn followed with a double. One run came in on a sacrifice fly, and Cooley's double made it 4-1.
- The Panthers drew consecutive walks to open the fourth, and three batters later, a Curtis single extended the lead to 5-1.
- McDaniel got a leadoff homer in the fifth to cut into the margin.
- Plymouth State blew the game wide open with a seven-run sixth inning. Flynn smacked an RBI double, Cooley drew a bases-loaded walk, and senior Sam Malgeri (Stratham, N.H.) singled in a run to push the lead to 8-2. Worthington walked with the bases loaded and sophomore Sam Salvi (Southborough, Mass.) followed with a run-scoring single ahead of Sokolski's sacrifice fly. Quinn capped the big inning with an RBI single to balloon the lead to 12-2.
- The Green Terror answered quickly with two runs in the next half inning, and a two-run eighth pulled the visitors to within 12-6.
- McDaniel got a solo home run in the ninth to account for the final score.
By the Numbers (McDaniel):
- Every Panther in the lineup reached base safely, and eight of the nine starters had base hits.
- Curtis led the way with a three-hit game, finishing 3-for-5 with an RBI.
- Flynn had two doubles in four at bats with two runs scored and two RBIs.
- Quinn and Cooley drove in two runs apiece.
- Worthington and Malgeri both reached base three times.
- Senior Ryan Williams (Francestown, N.H.) picked up the win after allowing two earned over five innings.
How it Happened (Mt. Aloysius):
- Sokolski blasted a solo shot in the top of the first to give PSU a quick 1-0 lead.
- The Mounties evened the score with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning.
- Mt. Aloysius pulled ahead with a two-run double in the second.
- The hosts tacked on three more in the third to extend the margin to 6-1.
- Curtis singled in a run in the fourth to make it 6-2.
- Mt. Aloysius answered with two in the fifth to push the lead to 8-2.
- Junior Andrew Faherty (Phoenix, Ariz.) doubled in a run in the sixth to pull within 8-3.
- PSU attempted to rally in the ninth. Faherty singled and Malgeri doubled to start the frame. One run came home on a ground out, and Malgeri scored on a passed ball to cut the deficit to 8-5.
- Worthington singled, but the Mounties got the final two outs to preserve the win.
By the Numbers (Mt. Aloysius):
- Curtis reached base twice with a single and a walk. He also drove in a run.
- Faherty was 2-for-4 with a single, double, RBI, and run scored.
- Worthington and Salvi both finished 2-for-5 with a pair of singles.
- Sokolski's homer was his second of the year.
- Senior Andrew Baxter (Thornton, N.H.) needed just 24 pitches to go 2.1 scoreless innings. He allowed just one hit.
- Sophomore Ethan Nault (Fairhaven, Mass.) also threw a scoreless inning, retiring all three batters he faced on ten pitches.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State wraps up its trip on Thursday (Mar. 20) with a single game against Colby-Sawyer. First pitch is set for 12:30 p.m.
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