PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Sam Salvi (Southborough, Mass.) delivered a two-out, game-tying double in the bottom of the ninth inning of game two, but Keene State College prevailed in extra innings to sweep Plymouth State University in a Little East Conference (LEC) doubleheader at Parish Field on Thursday.
The Owls used a six-run third inning to take the opener, 11-1, in seven innings.
With the Panthers trailing 6-5 in the ninth inning of the nightcap, Salvi smacked a double to left to score freshman
Owen Webber (Bow, N.H.) from first and tie the game. Salvi later stole third but was stranded, and the Owls erupted for six runs in the 10th to complete the sweep, 12-6.
Plymouth State falls to 1-13 (0-5 LEC), while Keene State improves to 12-10 (6-1 LEC).
The Basics:
- Game One: Plymouth State 1, Keene State 11 (7 Inn.)
- Game Two: Plymouth State 6, Keene State 12 (10 Inn.)
- Plymouth State (1-13, 0-5 LEC)
- Keene State (12-10, 6-1 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- The Owls jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first.
- Senior Ray Campbell (Torrington, Conn.) drove in a run in the bottom of the inning to make it 3-1.
- Keene State got the run right back in the second, then pushed six runs across in the third to extend the lead to 10-1.
- Senior Andrew Faherty (Phoenix, Ariz.) singled to open the bottom half and a walk put two runners on, but the Owls got a double play ball to end the threat.
- Keene State tacked on a run in the fourth to make it 11-1 and the Panthers couldn't rally.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Faherty singled twice in three at-bats.
- Campbell went 1-for-3 with an RBI.
- Junior Ryan Morgado (Brentwood, N.H.) singled, while senior Brendan Flynn (Arlington, Mass.) reached twice on a walk and hit by pitch.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Keene State scored in the top of the first, but Salvi reached on an infield hit, stole second and third, then scored on an error in the bottom of the inning to tie it at 1-1.
- Morgado and Webber had back-to-back doubles in the second as PSU took a 2-1 lead.
- The Owls rallied for two runs in the fourth to take a 3-2 lead.
- Flynn drove in Faherty in the fifth to knot the score at 3-3. The Panthers regained the lead on a sacrifice fly from junior Brayden Michaelson (Charlton, Mass.), before sophomore Anthony Cooley (Brunswick, Maine) singled down the left field line to make it 5-3.
- The Owls answered right back with three runs in the sixth to retake the lead, 6-5.
- Webber was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the ninth, then raced around the bases to tie the game on Salvi's two-out double. Salvi stole third, but was stranded as the game went to extra innings.
- Keene State erupted for six runs in the 10th to take the lead, and PSU couldn't answer in the bottom half.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Salvi went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, three steals and an RBI.
- Flynn (walk, single, hit by pitch) was on base three times, scored a run and drove in one.
- Campbell singled and walked in four at-bats, while Morgado and Webber both doubled and scored.
- Freshman Matthew Hayes (Bellows Falls, Vt.) struck out five in five-plus innings.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State remains in conference play on Saturday (Apr. 11) with a doubleheader at WestConn. Game one is slated for a noon first pitch.
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