Plymouth, NH-After winning the front half of their doubleheader with Rhode Island College 8-7, Plymouth controlled their own destiny. Win and they were in the playoffs; Lose and their season was over. After a 11-inning affair in game one, the Panthers ran out of gas, dropping game two 8-2, and dropping out of playoff contention.
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Game 1: PSU – 8 RIC – 7 (11 innings)
A Ryan McIntosh (senior; Lincoln, NH) sac-fly in the bottom of the 11th inning broke a 7-7 tie and gave the Panthers a chance for the playoffs in game two.
Helped by three-run innings in the first and fifth, Plymouth held a 7-3 lead going into the eighth inning. RIC fought back, scoring a run in the eighth and three runs in the ninth to tie the game at 7-7.
After a scoreless 10th, Plymouth was able to put things together in the bottom of the 11th. Brendan Cosgrove (senior; Merrimack, NH) got on with a walk and advanced to second on an error by the pitcher. A single put Cosgrove on third with one out. After a walk, McIntosh came to the plate. McIntosh got solid contact to center, and it had just enough to score Cosgrove from third, ending the game 8-7 with a walk-off sac-fly.
Rew Wilson (senior; Niantic, CT) got the start for the Panthers. He went 7 innings with five strikeouts and four walks, while giving up four hits and four runs (two earned). Tucker Regan (junior; Niantic, CT) came in from the bullpen. He went 4 innings with three strikeouts and three walks, while giving up five hits and three runs (two earned). McIntosh finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Brandon Cox (junior; Nashua, NH) went 2-for-5 with two RBIs, and Brian Thompson (sophomore; Southington, CT) went 3-for-5 with three RBIs.
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Game 2: RIC – 8 PSU – 2
A close game got blown open in the ninth when RIC erupted for five runs, and Plymouth couldn’t fight back in the bottom of the inning, losing their last game and being eliminated from playoff contention.
After three scoreless innings, RIC scored two in the fourth off starter Cody Gilchrist (sophomore; Tyngsboro, MA) to take a 2-0 lead. RIC added another off Gilchrist in the sixth to extend the lead to 3-0. Plymouth fought back in the bottom of the inning. With a runner on first, a RIC error allowed one run to score and the lead was cut to 3-1.
Plymouth added another in the bottom of the eighth. A walk and a Robbie Madonna (junior; Cranston, RI) single put runners on first and second. McIntosh followed with a single through the right side to drive in another run, cutting the lead to 3-2.
The wheels came off in the ninth inning. RIC scored five runs, pushing the lead to 8-2. The Panthers couldn’t fight back in the bottom of the ninth, and the game and their season was over.
Gilchrist went 5.1 innings with one strikeout and two walks, while giving up eight hits and three runs. Zach Cogswell (junior; Allenstown, NH) pitched 3.2 innings of relief with one strikeout and one walk, while giving up seven hits and five runs.
The Panthers finished 20-20 on the year and finished eighth in the LEC with a 4-10 in-conference record.