PLYMOUTH – It was a promising start but a disappointing finish as Plymouth’s Pilgrims dropped a decision and out of contention for an NLC title with a loss to NorthWood at Bill Nixon Field 6-3.
Pilgrims starter Brandon Milligan and Panther starter Vince Miranda dueled for three innings until NorthWood flinched first. It was expected that defense would be a key in the game, and in the end it was NorthWood that ended up making more plays and taking the win.
“We knew they were going to put the ball in play,” said Plymouth head coach Ryan Wolfe. “Brandon is around the plate a lot. We’ve played great defense behind him, there was some times tonight when we didn’t make plays behind him and they took advantage of some of those.”
Two errors in the bottom of the third helped Plymouth plate three runs with Brayden Davidson’s two run double being the big blow. With Milligan sailing through three it seemed that might be enough, but NorthWood had other plans.
Using a Plymouth error the Panthers plated three answering runs in the fourth and followed with two more in the fifth using another costly Pilgrim error. Just for good measure NorthWood put up an insurance run in the seventh taking advantage of a two out walk and two more Plymouth errors.
“It’s like hitting it’s when you get the hits sometime instead of how many you get, and sometimes it’s not how many errors but when you make them. In essence that’s kind of tonight,” said Wolfe. “I thought Brandon (Milligan) pitched well. First three innings he was fantastic and efficient. Cody (Gamble) did a good job as well. All year we’ve not had a lot of errors tonight we made them when we didn’t need them.”
The Pilgrims could manage just two hits after the third as Miranda settled in to shut the Pilgrims out the rest of the way. Caleb Mikesell had a pair of hits as did Cody Gamble.
Plymouth had a golden opportunity in the sixth with Gamble at second and Milligan at first Justin Drudge hit a ball deep in the gap in left center and instead of a game tying double, it turned into an outstanding diving catch by Vincent’s brother center fielder Dominic Miranda.
“The ball (Justin) Drudge hit there with two on and two outs was in the gap the center fielder made a great play,” said Wolfe. “We had opportunities and just couldn’t extend the lead. We let them hang around and when you do that with a good team they make you pay.”
Plymouth is now 12-11 on the year and 8-5 in the NLC. Their final game in conference action will be on the road at Northridge on Wednesday. Tonight will be senior night at Bill Nixon Field as CMA will come to town with a scheduled 5 p.m start.
Linescore
NorthWood 0 0 0 3 2 0 1 6-9-2
Plymouth 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 3-6-4
WP – Miranda. LP – Milligan. 2B – D. Miranda (NW), Davidson (P).
