WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Sophomore
Ray Campbell (Torrington, Conn.) launched his fourth homer in his last seven at bats, but Eastern Connecticut State University swept Plymouth State University, 9-4 and 10-4, in a Little East Conference (LEC) baseball doubleheader at Eastern Baseball Stadium on Saturday.
PSU took a 2-0 lead in the first inning of the opener, and Campbell's fourth long ball in two games made it 3-1 in the fourth, but the Warriors scored five in the fifth to take the lead for good. The Panthers battled to the last out, loading the bases and scoring a run in the ninth, but ECSU held on for the win.
The hosts scored in each of the first four innings of game two, but a two-run double from junior
Brendon Flynn (Arlington, Mass.) in the fifth cut the deficit to 7-4. The Warriors tacked on insurance runs in the seventh and eighth to seal the sweep.
Plymouth State slips to 3-7 (0-2 LEC), while Eastern Connecticut improves to 10-4 (2-0 LEC).
The Basics:
- Game 1: Plymouth State 4, Eastern Connecticut 9
- Game 2: Plymouth State 4, Eastern Connecticut 10
- Plymouth State (3-7, 0-2 LEC)
- Eastern Connecticut (10-4, 2-0 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Plymouth State struck for two runs in the top of the first. Sophomore Josh Worthington (Pownal, Vt.) singled, was bunted to second, and graduate student Luke Sokolski (Weatherford, Conn.) doubled him home. Flynn singled to put runners on the corners, and a two-out single from graduate student Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) made it 2-0.
- Sophomore Sam Salvi (Southborough, Mass.) doubled to open the third but was stranded.
- ECSU got an unearned run in the bottom of the frame to cut the deficit in half, 2-1.
- Campbell went deep with one out in the fourth to restore the two-run lead, 3-1.
- The Warriors used a two-out rally in the fifth to pull ahead. With two away, five straight batters reached, and a bases-loaded, three-run triple made it 6-3.
- ECSU added two runs in the seventh and one in the eighth for a 9-3 advantage.
- PSU attempted to rally in the ninth. After the first out, Worthington doubled and Salvi was hit by a pitch. Sokolski singled to load the bases, but ECSU got a strikeout for the second out. A walk forced in a run to make it 9-4, but the Warriors got a key strikeout to end the threat.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Worthington went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.
- Sokolski (single, double) and Curtis (two singles) each went 2-for-5. Sokolski scored a run and both players registered an RBI.
- Junior Alex Noel (Dover, N.H.) allowed three earned runs over 6.1 innings but was saddled with the loss.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Worthington launched a leadoff home run in the first for a quick 1-0 lead.
- Eastern Connecticut answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to go ahead, 2-1.
- The Warriors used a pair of sacrifice flies in the second to extend the margin to 4-1.
- PSU loaded the bases in the third on a walk, Worthington's single, and Salvi's hit-by-pitch. Sokolski's RBI groundout pulled the Panthers within 4-2.
- ECSU answered right back with two runs in the bottom of the frame.
- A solo shot extended the Warriors' lead to 7-2 in the fourth, but PSU attempted to claw back. Worthington walked and Salvi was hit again before Flynn's two-out, two-run double cut the lead to 7-4.
- Senior Sam Malgeri (Stratham, N.H.) had a two-out double in the sixth, but was stranded and the hosts added insurance runs late to make it 10-4.
- Plymouth State loaded the bases in the ninth but couldn't push across a run.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Worthington went 2-for-4 with a homer, walk, two runs scored, and an RBI.
- Salvi reached base three times with a double and two hit-by-pitches. He also scored a run.
- Flynn drove in two runs.
Up Next:
- PSU squares off against WPI for a non-conference doubleheader next Saturday (Mar. 29). The games, played at Granger Athletic Complex on the campus of Clark University, are set for 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
– 30 –
