Anchored by Good Pitching, PSU Baseball Wins Double-Header Against UMB

Plymouth, N.H.-The Plymouth State University baseball team scored a pair of pivotal LEC wins against the University of Massachusetts Boston on Saturday afternoon (April 28th)  at Panther Park. The Panthers were propelled to victory by performances on the mound by senior Bobby Chatfield (Sharon, Conn.) and classmate Jonathan Bishop (Woburn, Mass.).

 "Ryan McIntosh really lead our team offensively the first game, he seemed to be up every time we need a big hit," said Chatfield, who pitched seven shutout innings in game one of the doubleheader, striking out seven to earn a complete game win, 10-0. Senior Ryan McIntosh (Lincoln, N.H.) led PSU's bats, getting four hits and driving in five runs, including a two-run homerun in the fourth inning which started the Panthers' offensive blitz. "You cannot say enough good things about what Ryan McIntosh does for this team day in and day out. Mac is our on the field leader and he continues to show the conference why, earning himself LEC player of the week," said Bishop. Senior Mike Cappiello (Westfield, N.J.) added to the game one onslaught with an RBI double in the seventh.

In the nightcap, Bishop grabbed the win, pitching nine complete innings and allowing only two runs. The Panthers won game two, 6-2. "We knew that we had to take at least one game against UMB to help our chances in making the LEC tournament coming into the day," said Bishop. Cappiello electrified the Beacons pitching in the nightcap, going 3-for-3, and making Plymouth State University history. In the fifth inning, Cappiello knocked in the 46^th double of his PSU career, breaking the previous Plymouth baseball record of 45, held by Mark Thompson (1995-98). McIntosh capped off his impressive day with another three runs batted in.

"Bobby Chatfield and myself, being the leaders of the pitching staff, knew we had to come up big for the team on Saturday," Bishop said. That's exactly what they did, helping Plymouth State's record climb to 15-19 overall and 4-8 in the Little East Conference. The Panthers are now in sixth place in their conference. With the loss, the University of Massachusetts Boston baseball squad falls to 17-16-1 overall (5-7 in LEC). Both aces of the PSU pitching staff seem to agree that, following Saturday's games, the momentum is in Plymouth State's favor. "As a team, overall, I believe it was our best overall complete effort," said Bishop.

The Panthers hope to continue winning as they surge towards the season's end. They will finish their 2012 regular season with four consecutive games at home, starting this past Tuesday (May 1st) against Middlebury College.