SYRACUSE – Plymouth’s Pilgrims completed a very difficult feat in NLC baseball competition – a 2-0 win at Wawasee made it three straight wins away from home in conference play.

“I just tell the guys when you walk off the bus expect to win,” said Plymouth head coach Ryan Wolfe. “That’s got to be the mind set when you get off the bus. We’ve played well on the road overall I think we’re 5-0. I don’t know what it is but whatever it is let’s keep doing it.”

One thing it is would be pitching. The Pilgrims were beneficiaries of outstanding pitching performances in a 17 inning win on Monday night at Bill Nixon Field and at Wawasee Jacob Frantz gave them another.

The senior left was masterful, throwing just 84 pitches in a complete game win, giving up just four hits and striking out five, walking just two in the game.

“He kept them off balance, He used his defense we had some guys in different spots due to injury and he did a great job,” said Wolfe. “His pitch count was great he was efficient. That’s what I know Jacob France can do every time out there.”

Another would be defense. After 28 errors in the teams first 9 games the Pilgrims were errorless on the night behind Frantz.

“That’s what we need to do,” said Wolfe. “Early in the season we struggled a little defensively, our guys throw a lot of strikes – get a lot of ground balls and fly balls. Tonight they played well behind Jake.”

Warrior starter Gage Fanning was superb himself, escaping damage in every inning but two. Frantz singled in the third – part of a two hit night – was moved to third and scored on a wild pitch. Frantz’s bases loaded walk in the sixth plated the other Plymouth run.

“The only negative I can take away is that we needed a big two out hit,” said Wolfe. “If we get that we have a chance to break it open a little bit earlier on. But that’s something we preach. It’ll come.”

After leaving 15 runners on base Monday night the Pilgrims left a runner in scoring position in every inning but the seventh.

Justin Drudge tripled for the Pilgrims and Brandon Milligan had a pair of hits in the game.

Frantz escaped his only real trouble of the night in the seventh when pinch hitter Chase Rookstool doubled off the fence in left center. The Plymouth lefty got a pair of fly outs to center fielder Matt Flynn to end the game.

Plymouth (7-5, 3-1) returns home on Friday to take on NLC unbeaten NorthWood at Bill Nixon Field.

LINESCORE

Plymouth 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2-7-1

Wawasee 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-4-1

WP – Frantz. LP – Fanning. 3B – Drudge (P). 2B – Rookstool (W).