PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Graduate student
Luke Sokolski (Weatherford, Conn.) doubled and blasted a three-run homer to pull Plymouth State within a run in the eighth inning, but the University of Massachusetts Boston responded with five runs in the ninth to top the Panthers, 9-4, in a Little East Conference baseball game at Parish Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Runs were at a premium early, as senior
Jason Smith (Charlestown, Mass.) and the Beacons' starter traded zeroes through the first five innings. UMass Boston scratched out single runs in the sixth and seventh, then added two more in the eighth to build a 4-0 lead. Sokolski's three-run homer, his fourth of the season, cut the deficit to one, but the Beacons pulled away with a five-run ninth. The Panthers threatened with the bases loaded and none out in the bottom half but were limited to just one run as UMB held on for the win.
PSU falls to 6-20 (3-11 LEC), while the Beacons jump to 24-12 (12-4 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, UMass Boston 9
- Plymouth State (6-20, 3-11 LEC)
- UMass Boston (24-12, 12-4 LEC)
How it Happened:
- The Beacons notched back-to-back hits with one out in the first, and a stolen base put two in scoring position, but Smith induced a ground ball to escape the jam.
- In the third, sophomore Josh Worthington (Pownal, Vt.) worked a two-out walk and moved to third on a single by classmate Sam Salvi (Southborough, Mass.), but a strikeout ended the inning.
- UMass Boston loaded the bases in the fifth, but Smith again worked out of trouble.
- Senior Scooter Summa (Ellicott City, Md.) singled in the fifth but was stranded.
- The Beacons broke through with a two-out RBI double in the sixth, though Smith came back with a big strikeout to limit the damage.
- Sokolski ripped a ground-rule double to left with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but PSU couldn't bring him in.
- UMass Boston added another run in the seventh to chase Smith, with sophomore Greg Mayo (Dorchester, Mass.) coming on to record the final two outs.
- The Beacons tacked on two more in the eighth to push the lead to 4-0.
- PSU responded in the bottom half. A hit-by-pitch and Salvi's single put two aboard before Sokolski's three-run shot to left made it a one-run game.
- UMass Boston erupted for five runs in the top of the ninth. PSU loaded the bases with none out in the bottom half but settled for just one run as the rally fell short.
By the Numbers:
- Sokolski went 2-for-4 with a double, a homer, three RBIs, and a run scored.
- Salvi finished 2-for-5 with a run scored.
- Worthington reached twice (single, walk), scored a run, and drove in one.
- Smith turned in his best start of the season, working 6.1 innings with allowing just two earned runs.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State closes out the season with a Senior Day doubleheader against Keene State on Friday (May 2). Game one is set for 10:00 a.m., with Senior Day festivities to take place between games.
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