PLYMOUTH – A night off from the NLC simply brought a non-conference challenge to Bill Nixon Field and the Plymouth Pilgrims were able to get a shut out defeating CMA by a 10-0 final.
It was a grey night and the play of each team was comparably sluggish. CMA pitchers George Babchuk and Wilson Bird handed the Pilgrims 10 walks on the night and the Eagles made four errors. Plymouth starter Grant Stukenborg issued four of his own but the difference was he struck out eight and gave up just three hits in tossing the six inning shut out – his third win of the season.
“Early he was all over but he settled in and was aorund the plate,” said Plymouth head coach Ryan Wolfe. “It was one of those games where you get a couple early and then Stuke (Grant Stukenborg) did a good job of settling down and throwing strikes there in the third, fourth and fifth inning.”
Stukenborg did work his way out of back to back walks in both the first and fourth innings. CMA starter George Babchuk was able to minimize several early situations with some stellar defensive work by his team mates.
In the second with runners at second and third, Cam Dennie hit a grounder to shortstop Kyle Dane who’s heads up tag of Caleb Mikesell in front of him and quick throw to first resulted in an inning ending double play.
Again in the the third with the bases loaded Babchuk saw Cam Eveland hit a shot to third baseman Jack Benner who stepped on third to turn another inning ending double play.
A five run Plymouth fourth put some distance between the two and two Pilgrim runs on a Colten Schuler base hit ended the game.
“It was one of those things where we were able to get a lot of guys in the game to show what they can do,” said Wolfe. “We’ve got a lot of really good young players and it was good to get them in the game.”
The coach was also happy to see some solid at bats, and one in particular from his starting pitcher.
“Early in the year we were really selective then we saw some better pitching the last 15 games our so when we got into conference play it was good to have an approach up there,” said Wolfe. “The best example is an at bat by Stuke. He took a swing early in the count at a pitch over his head, and I told him to think about his approach and he ended up with a ten pitch at bat flying out to deep center. We had a lot of good at bats tonight and that’s important.”
It was also a night to get some key role players some field time.
“We have guys who have accepted their roles but to get them some swings in the game is important because you never know,” said Wolfe. “You hope that there won’t be any injuries but you never know and we have some guys that will fill in great but it’s good to get them some game at bats now.”
Linescore
CMA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0-3-4
Plymouth 2 0 1 5 0 2 10-8-1
WP – Stukenborg (3-0). LP – Babchuck. 3B – Dennie (P). 2B – Moffat (CMA), Davidson (P).
