CLAREMONT – Starting out the season 0-2, Stevens baseball picked up their first win in D-II in stunning fashion on Friday evening at Barnes Park, edging Plymouth 4-3.
Struggling to find holes in the Bobcats’ defense for much of the game, the Cardinals’ bats came up big in the bottom of the sixth as they strung together three runs to take the lead after trailing 3-1.
Trey Theriault got things started in the bottom of the sixth with a lead-off single, followed by Derrick Stanhope reaching safely after a Bobcats’ error, and Owen Taylor then singled to load the bases with no outs.
After a force out at home on a ground ball, Cam Macia singled on an 0-2 pitch to drive in Stanhope. Macia’s RBI put the Cardinals down just one run and continued their forward momentum. A strikeout there could have changed the outcome of the game.
“Down two strikes… he got a breaking ball,” said Stevens head coach Paul Silva on his senior playing in just his third varsity game. “He kept his hands back and gave us a huge hit.”
Next up was Dennis Peaslee. Peaslee hit a hard ground ball to short, and after getting a force out at second base, the throw to first in hopes of a 6-4-3 double play was off the mark.
As the ball sailed towards the fence behind first base, Cardinals’ Taylor and Stithen came around to score, giving the Cardinals their first lead of the game, 4-3.
“That’s a big win for us,” said coach Silva. “0-2 and playing a real good team… I was telling the guys that I don’t remember ever being in a close game with Plymouth… much less winning one, between my father or myself. To come back down two and get three runs in the sixth… I’m pretty proud of these guys.
“These guys are listening, they’re learning, and they’re practicing hard… and I think that showed today.”
A big reason why the Cardinals were in position to grab the come-from-behind win was the performance on the mound by Stanhope.
After allowing an inside-the-park homerun to start the game off, the senior only allowed two hits the rest of the way.
“Derrick was fantastic. He settled down nicely… after two runs in the first he was lights out,” said Silva. “He has shown composure this year and that’s the kind of pitcher he can be.”
Stanhope finished with 7 strikeouts and 6 walks in 7 innings.
For Plymouth, Andrew Baxter pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing 5 hits and 3 walks, while striking out 5.
On offense for the Cardinals, Theriault was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Macia, Owen Taylor, and Stanhope added hits.
NOTES: Stevens’ first run came on an RBI single from Theriault in the bottom of the first, knocking in Alex Taylor who reached with a walk — — Keaghan McAllister came up with a big catch, climbing the hill in right field in his first varsity baseball game — — Catcher Cam Macia gunned down a runner stealing second in the top of the sixth, with Ty Bonneau applying the tag.
Stevens (1-2) travels to Hanover on Monday, while Plymouth (2-1) will be at John Stark on Wednesday.
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