Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Southern Maine Sweeps Worcester State, 2-1 and 3-0
LAKELAND, Fla. -- Freshman right-hander Nick George (Peabody, Mass./Malden Catholic) threw a one-hit shutout in his first collegiate start to give the third-ranked University of Southern Maine Huskies a 3-0 victory and a sweep of the Worcester State University Lancers in a non-conference doubleheader Thursday at Henley Field.
The Huskies rookie hurler surrendered a two-out single through the right side to junior Zach George (Attleboro, Mass.) in the first inning, then retired 19 in a row to gain his first win. He did not walk a batter, struck out three and faced only 22 batters.
In the opening game, sophomore Tyler Leavitt (North Andover, Mass.) and junior Andrew Richards (South Portland, Maine) combined for a five-hitter as the Huskies downed the Lancers 2-1. The doubleheader sweep improved the Huskies overall record to 7-2. The Lancers have dropped five straight since a 3-1 start to fall to 3-6.
Game One
The Huskies snapped a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the third inning scoring an unearned run to take the win. With one out, freshman George Tsonis (Peabody, Mass.) tripled to right field, and classmate Paul McDonough (Wells, Maine) followed with a walk to put runners at the corners. Tsonis scored on a throwing error when McDonough got caught in a rundown between first and second after being picked off.
USM took a 1-0 lead in the opening inning as senior John Carey (South Portland, Maine) tripled to left-center field and scored on a groundout by sophomore Sam Dexter (Oakland, Maine/Messalonskee).
The Lancers tied the score in the top half of the third. Sophomore Steve Wallace (Auburn, Mass.) was hit by a Leavitt pitch, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by sophomore Dennis Duplessis (Marlboro, Mass.). Leavitt escaped further damage by getting a fielder's choice out and a double play to end the inning.
Leavitt went 4.2 innings giving up just the one run on four hits and two walks while striking out three. He also had the benefit of three double plays. Richards got the last out of the fifth and went 2.1 innings to earn his first save.
The Lancers advanced a runner to third with one out against Richards in the sixth, but the junior right-hander got a strikeout and a groundout to end the inning. Richards retired the side in order in the seventh.
Junior southpaw Ben Libuda (Auburn, Mass.) was the tough-luck loser on the hill for the Lancers. Libuda went the distance giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks. He struck out seven.
Game Two
The Huskies gave Nick George all the runs he would need scoring twice in the third inning. Junior Brendon Joyce (Standish, Maine/Gorham) led off the inning with a single, and advanced to third on a one-out single by McDonough. Joyce came home on a sacrifice fly by Carey, and McDonough moved up a base on a throwing error. Dexter followed with a double to right center to score McDonough.
USM added an insurance run in the sixth as senior Forrest Chadwick (Gardiner, Maine) walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. After senior Chris Bernard (Scarborough, Maine) walked, sophomore Nick DiBiase (Portland, Maine/Deering) moved the runners up with a sacrifice bunt. Junior Jake Glauser (Goffstown, N.H.) brought Chadwick home with a squeeze bunt.
Rookie right-hander Kris Doyle (Millbury, Mass.) took the loss on the hill for the Lancers. Doyle went six innings allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and four walks. He fanned three.
Up Next
Southern Maine will play two games Friday. USM faces Rowan University in the morning (9:30 a.m.) at Chain O Lakes Park #1 in Winter Haven, Fla. In an added game, USM will play Framingham State University under the lights (6:30 p.m.) at Henley Field in Lakeland. Worcester State closes its nine-game Florida swing with a doubleheader against Trinity College at Chain O Lake Park #1 on Friday (1:30 p.m.).
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