PLYMOUTH – For a second night, Plymouth’s Pilgrims made a statement in the NLC taking an 11-3 win over Concord at Bill Nixon Field.
It was a game that Plymouth head coach Ryan Wolfe could feel good about once again, as his team rode another solid fundamental night to a big conference win behind senior pitcher Grant Stukenborg.
“Anytime you put some runs up early and get some guys relaxed a little bit it’s good,” said Wolfe. “We took advantage of some free passes early on and then some guys squared it up and we were able to get some across.”
Starter Stukenborg struggled a bit early finding the strike zone, walking five hitters, but recovered to strike out five as well and give up just two hits in taking the first NLC win of his career.
“It’s just a matter of release point and being a little amped up, but I thought he did a good job of getting out of some jams, walking a few and then getting the ground ball he needed,” said Wolfe. “He did settle down in the fourth and fifth inning and because of those walks, his pitch count got up and we were able to get Cole (Filson) out there for a few innings.”
With a big lead, Filson came on to record the save with three innings of relief, surrendering three hits and himself struggling with control early on, but gave up just two hits and one run.
“When we start adding these games along with some non-conference games, we’re going to need all these arms,” said Wolfe. “Those young guys getting on the mound in these conference games is something we wanted to do early on.”
Plymouth got some key hits from a consistant performer with Ezra Winkle going three for four with a double and an RBI, and in new places with Nate Nixon stepping up for a two for three night including a double, and Filson going two for four with an RBI.
“Nate (Nixon) hitting in the eight hole – he’s going to get some fastballs and that’s something we’ve been working on with him is getting more aggressive early in the count instead of being down in the count and getting those curveballs later and trying to square them up,” said Wolfe.
“When you can roll that lineup over with him and Cole, that’s a weapon,” he said. “That’s something we’ve got with all those athletes in a row, anybody is a threat to go and we are fortunate to have them. I’ve got a sign with some of them with Coach (Brent) Corbett that we wanted them stealing in the first three pitches. If they get a good jump they should be going and some of our guys know to take some pitches and give them a chance.”
The middle of Wolfe’s lineup continues to be productive in all kinds of ways.
“When you talk about five tool players, we have a lot of those guys that can do a lot of good things,” said Wolfe. “If one guy gets out, the other guy can do the same thing and if you’re an opposing pitcher and you look at the guy on deck, you can’t take an at bat off. These guys have really worked hard. They are baseball savvy we have a couple things that we have to clean up in the next few days.”
Plymouth is now 5-1 on the season and 2-0 in NLC play and Concord moves to 2-5 on the year 0-2 in the NLC.
Plymouth 11, Concord 3
Concord 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3-5-2
Plymouth 3 1 6 0 0 1 x 11-11-1
WP – Grant Stukenborg (2-0). LP – Quinn Miller. 2B – Nate Nixon (P).
