CASTLETON, Vt. – Junior
Brayden Michaelson (Charlton, Mass.) had three hits and freshman
Matthew Hayes (Bellows Falls, Vt.) allowed just two runs for his first career win as Plymouth State University held off Vermont State University Castleton, 9-8, in a Little East Conference (LEC) game at Spartan Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Senior
Ray Campbell (Torrington, Conn.) smashed a first-inning, two-run homer to give the Panthers an early lead, and Plymouth State never trailed. The Panthers extended the lead to 9-2 with three runs in the top of the eighth, but the hosts responded with four in the bottom half to pull within 9-6.
The Spartans attempted to rally in the ninth, using a pair of sacrifice flies to cut the deficit to 9-8 and put the tying runner on third base, but junior
Sean Dittmeier (Norwood, Mass.) recorded a clutch strikeout to seal the win.
Plymouth State improves to 3-14 (2-6 LEC), while Castleton falls to 7-21 (2-6 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 9, Castleton 8
- Plymouth State (3-14, 2-6 LEC)
- Castleton (7-21, 2-6)
How it Happened:
- Campbell launched a two-run homer in the top of the first to give the Panthers an early lead.
- Senior Brendan Flynn (Arlington, Mass.) drew a bases-loaded walk in the third to extend the lead. Campbell followed with a sacrifice fly before Michaelson added an RBI single made it 5-0.
- The Spartans got a two-out RBI double in the fourth to pull within 5-1, but freshman Maddox Turck (Goffstown, N.H.) answered with an RBI single in the sixth to restore the five-run margin.
- The first three batters reached in the bottom of the sixth, and an RBI groundout chased Hayes, but sophomore Jake Adrien (East Hampstead, N.H.) entered and got the next two outs to preserve a 6-2 lead.
- The Panthers appeared to put the game away with three runs in the eighth, as freshman Joey Dronzank (Hebron, Conn.) ripped an RBI single and senior Andrew Faherty (Phoenix, Ariz.) drove in two.
- Castleton responded with four runs in the bottom of the inning to pull within 9-6, but Dittmeier entered and stranded the bases loaded.
- The Spartans used a pair of sacrifice flies in the ninth to get within 9-8 and move the tying run to third, but Dittmeier ended it with a strikeout.
By the Numbers:
- Michaelson went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI.
- Campbell homered and drove in three runs.
- Faherty and Turck each finished 2-for-4; Faherty scored once and drove in two.
- Flynn reached base three times (single, two walks).
- Freshman Owen Webber (Bow, N.H.) singled, doubled and scored a run.
- Hayes tossed 5.1 innings, allowing just two runs to earn his first career win.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State travels to Gordon College on Wednesday (Apr. 15) for a 3 p.m. matchup with the Fighting Scots.
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