PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Plymouth State University scored seven runs in the eighth inning to rally past Rhode Island College and earn a key split of a Little East Conference (LEC) doubleheader at Pontarelli Field on Saturday.
PSU dropped the opener, 12-7, and trailed 5-3 entering the eighth inning of game two, but timely walks, a pinch-hit single from freshman
Maddox Turck (Goffstown, N.H.), and a clutch two-run double from
Ray Campbell (Torrington, Conn.) fueled a 10-6 comeback win.
Plymouth State remains in the postseason hunt, improving to 4-23 (3-10 LEC), just one game behind Rhode Island College (8-20, 4-11 LEC) for the final playoff spot with one week remaining in the regular season.
The Basics:
- Game One: Plymouth State 7, RIC 12
- Game Two: Plymouth State 10, RIC 6
- Plymouth State (4-23, 3-10 LEC)
- RIC (8-20, 4-11 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Campbell smacked a leadoff homer in the top of the second to give PSU a 1-0 lead.
- The Anchormen tied it with an unearned run in the third.
- Senior Andrew Faherty (Phoenix, Ariz.) singled, stole second and later scored on a groundout to put PSU back in front, 2-1, in the fifth.
- RIC answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning and added three more in the sixth.
- The Panthers took advantage of an error to score twice in the seventh, with sophomore Anthony Cooley (Brunswick, Maine) delivering a two-out single to pull within 7-4, but RIC responded with a run in the bottom half.
- RIC added four runs in the eighth to extend the lead to 12-4.
- Junior Ryan Morgado (Brentwood, N.H.) and freshman Owen Webber (Bow, N.H.) had RBI singles in a three-run ninth, but RIC held on for the win.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Campbell's home run was his third of the season; he also drew a walk.
- Junior Sam Salvi (Southborough, Mass.) and senior Brendan Flynn (Arlington, Mass.) had two hits apiece.
- Faherty and Cooley each reached base twice with a single and a walk.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Salvi singled and Flynn doubled to open the game before Campbell's sacrifice fly gave PSU a 1-0 lead, but RIC answered in the bottom half.
- Salvi singled and scored on Flynn's double, and Flynn late came home on Cooley's base hit to make it 3-1.
- The Anchormen responded with a run and had the tying run on third with one out, but freshman Matthew Hayes (Bellows Falls, Vt.) worked out of the jam to preserve the lead.
- RIC tied the game with a two-out run in the fourth, then added two-out runs in the sixth and seventh to take a 5-3 lead.
- The Panthers erupted in the eighth, scoring seven runs on three hits, two walks, two hit-by-pitches and an error. After a leadoff hit-by-pitch, Turck delivered a pinch-hit single and a walk loaded the bases. RIC walked in a run and an error plated another before Flynn was hit by a pitch to force in a third run and give PSU a 6-5 lead. A wild pitch and Campbell's two-run double to the gap pushed three more runs across, and another wild pitch capped the inning with the Panthers in front, 10-5.
- The Anchormen added a run in the ninth, but PSU closed out the win.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Campbell went 2-for-3 with a double, a walk, a run scored and three RBIs.
- Salvi, Flynn and junior Brayden Michaelson (Charlton, Mass.) all had multi-hit games. Salvi scored three times and drove in one, while Flynn doubled twice, scored two runs and drove in two.
- Graduate student Connor Dobson (South Portland, Maine) drew a pair of walks and scored a run.
- Hayes allowed four runs over 5.2 innings while striking out five.
- Sophomore Jake Adrien (East Hampstead, N.H.) earned the win in relief, throwing the final 2.2 innings and allowing one run.
- The win was PSU's first in Providence since the 2019 season.
Up Next:
- The Panthers host New England College in non-conference action on Monday (Apr. 27) at noon.
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