WORCESTER, Mass. – Junior
Alex Noel (Dover, N.H.) allowed just two runs over six full innings with five strikeouts but Worcester Polytechnic Institute edged out a 2-1 win over Plymouth State University in game one of a non-conference baseball doubleheader at Granger Athletic Complex on the campus of Clark University on Saturday.
Plymouth State had runners on base in each of the first four innings, but it took a WPI misplay to help the Panthers get on the board in the fifth as graduate student
Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) drove in the game's first run with a sacrifice fly. The Engineers scored twice in the sixth to pull into the lead, then retired the side in order in the seventh to eke out the win.
In game two, the Panthers grabbed a first-inning run on another Sokolski sac fly, but WPI answered with two in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for good. The hosts added three in the second and used a seven-run fourth to put the game out of reach on the way to a 12-1 decision.
Plymouth State slips to 3-9, while the Engineers are 10-8.
The Basics:
- Game 1: Plymouth State 1, WPI 2
- Game 2: Plymouth State 1, WPI 12
- Plymouth State (3-9)
- WPI (10-8)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Sophomore Josh Worthington (Pownal, Vt.) singled and classmate Sam Salvi (Southborough, Mass.) walked to open the game. With one down, a hit batter loaded the bases, but WPI escaped with back-to-back strikeouts.
- Sophomore Ray Campbell (Torrington, Conn.) ripped a leadoff double in the second but was stranded.
- With two down in the third, junior Brendan Flynn (Arlington, Mass.) worked a walk, but a popout ended the frame.
- The Panthers put the first two runners on in the fourth on an infield hit by graduate student Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) and Campbell's walk, but PSU was unable to come up with the big hit.
- Plymouth State finally broke through in the fifth with some help from the Engineers' defense. Worthington reached on a two-base error to start the frame and Salvi drew another walk. Salvi was cut down on a double steal attempt, but Worthington advanced to third and came home on Sokolski's sac fly for a 1-0 lead.
- Meanwhile, Noel was carving his way through the WPI lineup, retiring the side in order in the third, fourth, and fifth innings while racking up five strikeouts in the early going.
- Curtis singled in the sixth but was stranded, and WPI got on the board in the bottom of the inning. A leadoff triple set the table as the Engineers notched four hits in the frame to take a 2-1 lead.
- Plymouth State went down in order for the only time of the game in its final at bat.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Curtis went 2-for-3.
- Campbell doubled and walked, while Salvi (two walks) was also on base twice.
- Worthington singled and scored the Panthers' lone run, with Sokolski recording the RBI.
- Noel allowed just two hits through the first five innings. He finished the day with six hits and two runs allowed, striking out five.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Worthington yanked a leadoff double down the left field line and took third on a wild pitch. Sokolski came through again with a sacrifice fly to give the Panthers a quick 1-0 lead.
- WPI used a pair of RBI groundouts in the bottom of the frame to leapfrog into the lead, 2-1.
- The Engineers added three runs in the second to extend the margin.
- Sophomore Tony Suarez (Newington, Conn.) walked and junior Chris Faherty (Phoenix, Ariz.) singled to put two on to start the third, but WPI got out of the jam without allowing a run.
- The hosts put the game out of reach with a seven-run fourth.
- Suarez and Faherty both singled in the fifth, but again the Panthers came up empty as WPI continued on to the win.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Flynn and Faherty each went 2-for-3.
- Suarez reached twice with a single and walk.
- Worthington doubled, walked and scored a run, while Sokolski doubled and drove in one.
- Senior Nick Wilson (Mont Vernon, N.H.) worked 2.2 scoreless innings in relief with three strikeouts.
Up Next:
- The Panthers head to Colby College for a non-conference game on Wednesday (Apr. 2) at 4:00 p.m.
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