PSU Baseball Falls to Southern Maine in Double-Header

            Gorham, Maine-On Saturday afternoon (4/21), the Plymouth State University baseball team dropped consecutive games to the University of Southern Maine in a Little East Conference double-header at USM's Baseball Stadium.

            The Panthers lost the opening game, 6-2, despite a bases loaded opportunity in the seventh to strike back. Senior Mike Cappiello (Westfield, N.J.) led Plymouth State's bats, once again, with two of the five hits allowed by SMU pitching. Senior Bobby Chatfield (Sharon, Conn.) took the loss on the mound for the Panthers in game one, dropping to 1-4 on the season. "We were intense both games and understood the magnitude of each game," said first year Jeff Reynolds (Nashua, N.H.). "We need to just take advantage of those opportunities that'll give us the edge in the game." For the Huskies, senior pitcher Ben Ives (Portland, Maine) snagged the win, improving to 7-0 on the season.  

            The nightcap was an offensive collision, with Southern Maine out-hitting the Panthers, 18-5, defeating the visiting squad, 17-7, after coming back from a two-run deficit in the third inning. Plymouth State refused to give up without a fight. Junior Steve Beard (Middleton, Mass.) pounded in two runs on a triple and made it on base three times. Cappiello's bat remained hot ingame two, as he collected a double while also reaching base after getting hit by a pitch. SMU crushed seven runs onto the board in the bottom of the seventh to stop the game with the LEC Mercy Rule. Senior Jonathan Bishop (Woburn, Mass.) pitched for a loss for PSU, falling to 2-3 this season. Sophomore Jeff Runnals (Wolfeboro, N.H.) pitched over three strong innings of relief to keep Plymouth State in the game. Southern Maine put on another impressive pitching performance, as sophomore Logan Carman (Newfields, N.H.) allowed only five hits in nearly eight innings on the mound.

            With the loss (their third straight), the Panthers fall to 12-18 overall, 2-8 in conference. The Huskies, with the sweep, are now 16-14 (7-3 in LEC). The loss is devastating to Plymouth State's playoff hopes, yet still, the Panthers remain strong. "There is a really positive attitude amongst everyone on the team. Each one of us possesses the urge to win every time we are out there," said Reynolds. "We need to focus on what we control and that's winning games. We need to stay positive and want to win every time we get on the field." The Panthers have missed their last three games due to rain, but will get a chance to get back on the winning track possibly Wednesday (4/25) at Castleton if the weather holds. Through the losses, PSU has remained confident in their ability to succeed this season.