BOSTON, Mass. – Juniors
Brendan Flynn (Arlington, Mass.) and
Andrew Faherty (Phoenix, Ariz.), along with senior
Sam Malgeri (Stratham, N.H.), each homered, but it wasn't enough as the University of Massachusetts Boston topped Plymouth State University, 10-5, in a Little East Conference (LEC) baseball game at Monan Park on Tuesday afternoon.
Faherty opened the third inning with a solo shot to cut into an early 2-0 deficit. Flynn followed with a leadoff blast in the fourth to pull the Panthers within 5-3, but the Beacons responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame. Malgeri made it three straight innings with a leadoff homer to start the fifth, closing the gap to 7-4, but once again, the hosts had an answer and added insurance runs in the seventh and eighth innings. PSU scratched across a run in the ninth and loaded the bases with two outs, but a sliding catch by the UMass Boston left fielder on a sinking liner ended the rally.
Plymouth State slips to 3-14 (0-6 LEC), while the Beacons improve to 18-10 (7-3 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 5, UMass Boston 10
- Plymouth State (3-14, 0-6 LEC)
- UMass Boston (18-10, 7-3 LEC)
How it Happened:
- UMass Boston opened the scoring with two runs in the second inning, but Faherty answered by turning on the first pitch he saw and launching a solo shot deep over the high wall in left field to cut the deficit in half.
- PSU tied the game with a two-out rally: sophomore Josh Worthington (Pownal, Vt.) tripled off the center field wall and scored on a double down the right field line by classmate Sam Salvi (Southborough, Mass.).
- The Beacons reclaimed the lead with three runs in the bottom half of the inning.
- Flynn led off the fourth with a no-doubter to right, trimming the deficit to 5-3, but UMB responded with a two-out, two-run double.
- Malgeri led off the fifth with a deep homer into the Beacons' bullpen in right center, but again the hosts answered with a run.
- UMB tacked on insurance runs in the seventh and eighth to push the lead to 10-4.
- PSU showed life in the ninth as senior Owen Baum (Saint Michaels, Md.) delivered a pinch hit RBI single, and a hit by pitch loaded the bases. It looked like the Panthers would cut further into the deficit, but the UMass Boston left fielder made a sliding catch on a sinking liner to end the game.
By the Numbers:
- Worthington reached base twice with a triple, a walk, and a run scored.
- Graduate student Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) had a single and a walk, while senior Danny Quinn (Holliston, Mass.) walked twice.
- Eight different Panthers recorded hits.
- Five of PSU's eight hits went for extra bases: three home runs, a double, and a triple.
- The last time three Panthers homered in a single game came in a win over UMass Boston last spring, when four different players went deep.
- The teams split the regular season series a year ago.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State is set to visit Colby-Sawyer on Friday (Apr. 18).
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