PLYMOUTH – It was another thrilling night at Bill Nixon Field as Plymouth’s Pilgrims continue to win games late taking a bottom of the seventh thriller from Concord by a 6-5 final.

 

The Pilgrims appeared in control of the game jumping to a 3-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single from Justin Drudge and a two out two RBI single by starting pitcher Braydon Davidson. It looked like that might even be enough, until the sixth.

 

“When we got four I told them it wouldn’t be enough,” said Plymouth head coach Ryan Wolfe. “I knew they weren’t going to go away. Our guys battled and showed their resilience.”

 

Davidson was able to ride a five hit five strike out performance into the sixth but an uncharacteristic three error inning helped the Minutemen take a 5-4 lead off reliever Bailey Clark. The big blow for Concord was a two run double from centerfielder Jarrod Beverly.

 

Undaunted, Plymouth responded to tie on Elijah Nixon’s two out single in the bottom of the frame.

 

“I keep going back to the word resilient,” said Wolfe. “We left some runners early and I’m glad that didn’t come back and haunt us. It goes back to some of the games we’ve been in this year, some of the close games – the guys being put in those positions replaying in their minds and being confident in those situations.

 

“We have guys that get on base and put some pressure on. Our guys are relaxed and ready to hit the ball. We were patient and got ourselves some pitches to hit.”

 

After Clark worked through the Minutemen in the seventh, he led off the inning by getting himself on first by beating out a ground ball to the shortstop. Pinch runner Caleb Mikesell came on and the play of the game was made by second basemen Brandon Milligan with one job to do at the plate.

 

“There’s nothing bigger than a 2-2 sacrifice bunt by Brandon Milligan,” said Wolfe. “I was proud of him. I knew he could do it that’s why we called it. It’s big because we needed that play at that time. I wouldn’t have called it if I wasn’t sure he could do it. That was his job to move Caleb to second and he did it.”

 

Milligan moved Clark to second and where he scored on Cam Eveland’s walk off single to right. Plymouth baserunning was a key in the contest.

 

“That’s a lot on them,” said Wolfe of his team’s efforts on the basepaths. “It’s good baseball guys out there and that makes a difference to put pressure on the defense to cause bad throws. That’s stuff that I have to give credit to my guys for having baseball savvy and good hustle on the bases.”

 

The Pilgrims stand at 4-3 with a game at Warsaw on Friday. Concord is now 4-2.

 

Linescore

Concord 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 5-8-2

Plymouth 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 6-12-3

WP – Bailey Clark. LP – Zack Stauffer. 2B – Beverly C.