GORHAM, Maine – Junior
Ryan Morgado (Brentwood, N.H.) had two hits and drove in a run, and Plymouth State University held an early lead, but the University of Southern Maine took control in the middle innings to top the Panthers, 21-3, in a Little East Conference (LEC) contest at Ed Flaherty Field on Tuesday.
Plymouth State scored twice in the second to grab a 2-1 lead. After the Huskies tied it in the bottom of the frame, Morgado's RBI single in the third restored PSU's one-run edge, 3-2. The hosts answered with four big innings to take control. Southern Maine, the current LEC frontrunner, remains unbeaten in conference play (7-0), with five of those wins coming by double digits.
Plymouth State falls to 1-11 (0-3 LEC), while Southern Maine improves to 15-4 (7-0 LEC).
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 3, Southern Maine 21 (7 Inn.)
- Plymouth State (1-11, 0-3 LEC)
- Southern Maine (15-4, 7-0 LEC)
How it Happened:
- The Huskies took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
- Plymouth State answered with a pair of runs in the second. Graduate student Connor Dobson (South Portland, Maine) reached on an error to tie the game, and freshman Joey Dronzank (Hebron, Conn.) followed with an RBI single to give PSU a 2-1 lead.
- Southern Maine tied it with a two-out hit in the bottom of the frame.
- Morgado delivered a clutch two-out single to drive in a run and put the Panthers back in front, 3-2, in the third.
- The Huskies responded with crooked numbers in the next four innings to pull away.
By the Numbers:
- Morgado singled twice and drove in a run in three at-bats.
- Dronzank (single, walk) reached base twice and drove in one, while sophomore Anthony Cooley (Brunswick, Maine) doubled and scored a run.
- Junior Brayden Michaelson (Charlton, Mass.) walked twice, and classmate Cam Manning (North Woodstock, N.H.) ripped a pinch-hit double in his lone at-bat.
- PSU's last win in Gorham came during the 2018 season.
Up Next:
- The Panthers welcome Keene State to Parish Field for a home-opening doubleheader on Thursday (Apr. 9). First pitch of game one is set for 11 a.m.
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