New Hampshire Hardball

Plymouth State drops two

WEYMOUTH, Mass. – Eastern Nazarene College snapped a 4-4 tie with three runs in the seventh inning to top Plymouth State University, 7-4, in the season opener for both teams at Libby Field on Sunday afternoon.

The Lions completed the sweep by erasing a 4-1 deficit with 13 runs over the final four innings to earn a 14-7 win in the nightcap.

Plymouth State got big offensive games from the catcher position, as senior Nick Healey (Campton, N.H.) went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI in the opener, and junior Joshua Welsh (East Lyme, Conn.) was 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored in game two. Sophomore Danny Quinn (Holliston, Mass.) and junior Jackson Curtis (Jefferson, N.H.) each went 3-for-8 between the two games to aid the Panthers’ offense.

The games were the first for interim head coach Ryan McIntosh, who took over at the end of the 2022 season after spending eight years as an assistant.

The Basics:

  • Game 1: Plymouth State 4, Eastern Nazarene 7
  • Game 2: Plymouth State 7, Eastern Nazarene 14
    • Plymouth State (0-2)
    • Eastern Nazarene (2-0)

How it Happened (Game One):

  • The Lions used a pair of second-inning homers to take a 3-0 lead.
  • ENC tacked on an unearned run in the third to extend the margin.
  • Plymouth State got two back in the fourth when Curtis knocked a two-run single through the right side to score Healey and Quinn.
  • The Panthers pulled even in the fifth. Junior Luke Sokolski (Waterford, Conn.) and senior Alex Rives (Gilford, N.H.) reached to start the inning and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out. Sokolski scampered home on Quinn’s fielder’s choice and Healey beat out an infield single to tie the score at 4-4.
  • The Lions retook the lead in the bottom of the seventh. Back-to-back singles started the frame and a sacrifice advanced the runners, before a double down the line made it 6-4. A sacrifice fly later in the inning made it 7-4.
  • Healey singled to lead off the eighth, but a double play ended the threat and PSU went down in order in the ninth.

By the Numbers (Game One):

  • Plymouth State had eight singles in the opener, with Healey paving the way going 3-for-4 with a run and RBI.
  • Rives had a pair of hits, while Jackson drove in two.
  • Senior Bobby Cliche (Stratham, N.H.) struck out five over four innings in the opener. He surrendered three earned runs.
  • Sophomore Jason Smith (Charlestown, Mass.) was saddled with the loss after giving up two earned in 2.1 innings, while senior Eoin Hamell-Kelleher (Attleboro, Mass.) got the final five outs without allowing a base runner.

How it Happened (Game Two):

  • The Lions used a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first to snag the early lead.
  • Plymouth State was gifted a run in the third to tie the game. Back-to-back errors gave the Panthers runners on the corners with nobody and out freshman Chris Faherty (Phoenix, Ariz.) crossed the plate on a double play ball to make it 1-1.
  • PSU took the lead with a three-run fourth. Quinn ripped a one out double and a pair of walks loaded the bases with one out. Curtis followed with a two-run single and Faherty plated a run with a ground out to make it 4-1.
  • Eastern Nazarene scored two in the bottom of the fifth to make it a one-run game, 4-3.
  • The Lions exploded for seven runs in the sixth to seize control, then added a single run in the seventh to extend the margin to 11-4.
  • Plymouth State used a two-out rally in the eight to claw back. Sophomore Sam Malgeri (Stratham, N.H.) plated a pair of runs with a two-out double, and Curtis and Faherty followed with base hits to score another run to pull within 11-7. A Sokolski walk loaded the bases, bringing the tying run to the plate, but ENC got a huge strikeout to escape further damage.
  • Eastern Nazarene came right back with three runs in the bottom half and the Panthers were unable to rally in the ninth.

By the Numbers (Game Two):

  • Plymouth State pounded out 10 hits to the Lions’ nine, but ENC took advantage of 11 free passes in the game.
  • Welsh was 3-for-4 with a walk and two runs scored, while Quinn and Curtis each went 2-for-4. Quinn singled, doubled, walked and scored twice, while Curtis had two singles and drove in a pair.
  • Malgeri had PSU’s other extra base hit with his eighth inning double.
  • Senior Trey Parker (Meriden, N.H.) struck out five over the first four innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits and two walks.

Up Next:

Plymouth State is off until heading to Myrtle Beach, S.C. for the Ripken Experience College Baseball Spring Training beginning Mar. 11. The Panthers will play nine games in six days on the trip, opening the trip with a pair against St. Joseph’s University Brooklyn.

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