PLYMOUTH – In a wild affair that saw 33 hits and 31 runs it was Plymouth’s Pilgrims that were the last team standing taking a 16-15 win over Elkhart Memorial at Bill Nixon Field.
It was a game that would see the winner gain a big step up in the fight for the conference title with first place Warsaw, who looms on Plymouth’s horizon for Monday. The win puts the Pilgrims in control of their destiny at 5-3 with Concord on Friday and 6-2 Warsaw on Monday.
The Chargers took a 1-0 lead in the first but Plymouth appeared to have control of the game headed to the fifth with a 9-2 lead and starter Jeremy Splix pitching a masterful four hitter. That would all change in the top of the fifth as Memorial put up 8 runs off Splix and reliever Caleb Mikesell.
“When you have a seven run lead and a four run lead you think you have it under control,” said Plymouth head coach Ryan Wolfe. “Give them credit they didn’t quit. It was a game had everything – eight errors, 35 hits and 31 runs. You have those and you have to find a way to grind and get a win. We got down and put up six and somehow we were able to get one there in the seventh.”
Leading 11-9 in the sixth Plymouth put up six in the sixth to take a 15-11 lead and then surrendered four to tie in the top of the seventh.
A two out double by Dyllon Pavey put courtesy runner Colten Schuler at second in the Plymouth seventh. Schuler took advantage of a pitch in the dirt to move to third and a clutch infield single by Cam Eveland in the hole at short ended the game.
“He has that capability and earlier in the game we thought about bunting him but he’s hitting around .400 with runners in scoring position,” said Wolfe. “He really buckles down. He extended his at bat and saw five pitches and he was able to get that sixth pitch. When you can courtesy run and do some things – it was just a great hit.”
The whole game seemed to turn after the fourth inning.
“The ball must have gotten a lot bigger to all the hitters at that point,” said Wolfe. “They were hitting the ball hard and it was weird because you had some hard hit balls and then some floaters that just got past the infielders. If you have a seven run lead and a five run lead and don’t win that ball game it’s tough.”
“I thought we had some good approaches and hopefully got some guys going. Cam Eveland got some big hits. Hitting is contagious and some of those guys are trying to come out of it.”
Plymouth had big nights at the plate from Eveland (3-5 three RBI’s including the game winner), Pavey (3-4, RBI), Cam Dennie (3-5 with a double and two RBI’s), Benji Nixon (2-3, a double, three RBI’s and a stolen base), and Jeremy Drudge with 3 RBI’s.
The Pilgrims (10-5, 5-3) get little rest with an NLC game Friday night against Concord at Bill Nixon Field. Memorial is 6-10, and 4-4 in the NLC.
Linescore
Memorial 1 0 1 0 8 1 4 15-16-4
Plymouth 0 3 1 5 0 6 1 16-17-4
WP – Drudge (1-0). LP – Wilson. HR – Mark (EM). 2B – Walter (EM), Schultz (EM), Wruble (EM), Dennie (P), Stults (P), Pavey (P), B. Nixon (P).
