Panther Baseball Picks Up Three Big Games

Cody Gilchrist (Tyngsboro, MA) and Dave Sampson (Bellingham, MA) picked up a pair of wins in a non-conference double header sweep against nationally ranked Western New England on Saturday, March 26th. Gilchrist threw another complete game victory in game one, ousting WNE 2-1, while Sampson picked up his first collegiate victory on the mound in game two, winning 4-2.

Featured in this week’s 10 Seconds, Gilchrist went the distance, allowing just one run on five hits while fanning six. The team trailed 1-0 until the sixth, where a pair of singles and a catcher’s interference loaded the bases. With Cam Ruziak (Sterling, MA), Nate Frederick (Worcester, MA) and Dave Hall (Groton, CT) on board, Jarek Krajewski (Cranston, RI) was able to draw a walk. James Riley-Garnett (Newport, RI) would score the eventual game-winning RBI, as he flared a sacrifice fly that scored Frederick.

Plymouth trailed once again in game two, with Hall and Frederick driving a pair of runs in the fifth. The team would tally an insurance run in the seventh, with Sampson picking up the win. Sampson threw four complete, giving up two earned on five hits and a walk. Taylor Doyle (Peterborough, NH) picked up his second save of the year in the victory.

In an absolute beat down last Thursday, the Panther hardball team cruised past Daniel Webster College 26-9 . “[Daniel Webster] is a team that has beat us every year since 2012,” said head coach Clay Jenkins. James Riley-Garnett refused to let that happen again, as he went 5-for-6 from the plate, rounding in seven RBI and tallying his fourth dinger of the year.

The Panther offense totaled 27 hits on the afternoon. Riley-Garnett, along with Kraewski, Hall, and Mike Ryan (Bellingham, MA) all hit over .500 for the day. Brady Larson (Brunswick, ME) picked up his first win of the year, coming on in relief for an inning. There was a combined 14 pitchers on the mound for both teams.

“This past 3-game win streak was evidence that we are making adjustments as a team and improving,” said coach Clay Jenkins. “We'll use this week to continue to improve on [our approach at the plate] and make sure we're ready for conference play this upcoming weekend.”

The Panthers have a tough 3-day stretch, with double headers tomorrow and Sunday, before a hopeful home opener this coming Monday.