PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Brayden Michaelson (Charlton, Mass.) smashed a pair of home runs, but Vermont State University Castleton used a four-run eighth inning to rally past Plymouth State University, 6-4, in a Little East Conference (LEC) baseball game on
Senior Day at Parish Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Michaelson launched a two-run homer in the bottom of the first as the Panthers erased an early 2-0 deficit to take a 3-2 lead. His second shot, a solo blast over the scoreboard in left field, extended the lead to 4-2 in the sixth.
The Spartans used a sacrifice fly and RBI single to tie the game in the eighth, then added two more runs to pull ahead. Castleton looked to extend the lead, but senior
Andrew Faherty (Phoenix, Ariz.) gunned down a runner out at the plate to keep it a two-run game.
PSU threatened in the ninth, as an error and hit-by-pitch put the tying runs on base, but the Spartans escaped on a bang-bang play at second base to secure the win.
Following the game, Plymouth State honored its senior class;
Connor Dobson (South Portland, Maine),
Jack Gintof (Meredith, N.H.),
Ross Tine (Wethersfield, Conn.),
Ray Campbell (Torrington, Conn.),
Jackson Fish (Hanover, Mass.),
Brendan Flynn (Arlington, Mass.), and Faherty.
Plymouth State falls to 5-24 (3-11 LEC), while the Spartans move to 12-25 (4-10 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, Castleton 6
- Plymouth State (5-24, 3-11 LEC)
- Castleton (12-25, 4-10 LEC)
How it Happened:
- Castleton used back-to-back two-out doubles to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.
- Faherty and junior Sam Salvi (Southborough, Mass.) hit back-to-back singles, and a hit batter loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom half. One run scored on a double play before Michaelson followed with a two-run shot to put PSU ahead, 3-2.
- Sophomore Dylan Bausemer (Whitman, Mass.) worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the second.
- Castleton threatened again in the sixth, putting two runners on with two outs, but sophomore Jake Adrien (East Hampstead, N.H.) came on to record the third out.
- Michaelson led off the bottom of the frame with a towering blast over the scoreboard in left field to extend the lead to 4-2.
- The Spartans loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh, but Adrien escaped with a strikeout to end the inning.
- Faherty singled and Salvi reached on an error with one out in the bottom half, but the Panthers couldn't add to the lead.
- A single and double put the tying runs on base in the eighth. Castleton used a sacrifice fly and RBI single to tie the score, then took the lead on an RBI double and wild pitch to go up 6-4. The Spartans attempted to add another run on a fly ball, but Faherty made a running catch and fired a strike to nail the runner at the plate.
- PSU battled in the ninth, putting the tying runs on base via an error and hit-by-pitch, but the Spartans held on with a close play at second.
By the Numbers:
- Michaelson first-inning homer was his first career home run. He finished 3-for-4 with two home runs, two runs scored and three RBIs.
- Faherty went 3-for-4 with a run scored.
- Salvi singled and scored a run, while freshmen Owen Webber (Bow, N.H.) added a single in three at-bats.
- Flynn reached base twice via a walk and hit-by-pitch.
- Bausemer delivered his best start of the season, tossing 5.2 innings and allowing two runs while striking out three.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State wraps up the regular season with a doubleheader at UMass Boston on Friday (May 1), with game one set for 3 p.m.
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