PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Graduate student
Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) homered and senior
Alex Noel (Dover, N.H.) and sophomore
Greg Mayo (Dorchester, Mass.) were solid on the mound as Plymouth State University took game one of a Little East Conference doubleheader against the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth at Parish Field on Friday.
Playing on their home field for the first time in nearly two years, the Panthers jumped out to an early lead with a two-run first inning in game one, before adding another in the fifth. UMass Dartmouth pulled within 3-2 in the sixth, but Curtis smacked a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning to make it 5-2. Each team plated a run in the seventh to account for the final score line in PSU's 6-3 win. Noel picked up the win, striking out five while pitching into the seventh, while Mayo surrendered just one hit over the final 2.1 innings to earn the save.
The Corsairs snagged a 3-0 lead through two innings of game two, but sophomore
Josh Worthington (Pownal, Vt.) and graduate student
Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) hit two-run homers in the third to take the lead. UMD came back with two in the top of the fourth and pulled away with a five-run sixth. PSU battled back with two runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull within 10-6, but the offense would stall there, and UMass Dartmouth tacked on an insurance run to earn the split with an 11-6 win.
Plymouth State moves to 4-15 (1-7 LEC), while the Corsairs are 14-13 (6-4 LEC).
The Basics:
- Game 1: Plymouth State 6, UMass Dartmouth 3
- Game 2: Plymouth State 6, UMass Dartmouth 11
- Plymouth State (4-15, 1-7 LEC)
- UMass Dartmouth (14-13, 6-4 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Sophomore Sam Salvi (Southborough, Mass.), Sokolski, and junior Brendan Flynn (Arlington, Mass.) strung together three straight singles with one down to score a run. Curtis added an RBI single later in the frame to make it 2-0.
- Salvi added a sacrifice fly in the fifth to extend the lead to 3-0.
- UMass Dartmouth briefly narrowed the gap in the sixth with a two-run home run.
- Curtis provided the big swing in the bottom of the inning with a two-run shot to right, extending PSU's lead to 5-2.
- The visitors scored in the top of the seventh, but PSU answered back when Sokolski drove in senior Scooter Summa (Ellicott City, Md.), who had reached on an error and moved around the bases on a wild pitch and sacrifice bunt.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Noel earned the win, scattering six hits over 6.2 innings while striking out five.
- Mayo picked up the save, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings in relief while allowing just one hit.
- Curtis finished 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs.
- Sokolski singled twice, scored once, and drove in a run.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- UMass Dartmouth notched a first-inning run, then tacked on two more in the second.
- Worthington provided a spark for the Panthers when his blast down the left field line glanced off the outfielder's glove and hit the foul pole. The umpires ruled the ball was still in play, though, so Worthington raced around the bases for an inside-the-park, two-run homer. Two batters later, Sokolski launched a no-doubter over the left field fence to give PSU a brief 4-3 lead.
- The Corsairs reclaimed the lead in the fourth and tacked on with five runs in the sixth to break the game open.
- Plymouth State showed resilience in the bottom half as junior Andrew Faherty (Phoenix, Ariz.) and senior Sam Malgeri (Stratham, N.H.) drove in runs to pull within 10-6, but the Panthers were unable to get any closer down the stretch.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Senior Danny Quinn (Holliston, Mass.) reached twice with a single and a walk and scored a run.
- Malgeri and junior Chris Faherty (Phoenix, Ariz.) also singled and walked. Malgeri drove in a run and C. Faherty scored once.
- The top five hitters in the Panthers' lineup all scored runs.
- Flynn was hit by a pitch twice and added a stolen base.
- Junior Ross Tine (Wethersfield, Conn.) and senior Jason Smith (Charlestown, Mass.) gave up just an unearned run over the final three innings. Smith struck out three.
Up Next:
- The Panthers host Southern Maine in conference action on Tuesday (Apr. 22) at 3:00 p.m.
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