ELKHART – Plymouth’s Pilgrims couldn’t have asked for a better start to the NLC season as they came away with a 10-2 win on the road at Elkhart Memorial.

A five run top of the first would really be enough as the Pilgrims ran away to the win on opening night of league play, but Memorial refused to throw in the towel hanging around to the end.

“It was a kind of weird feel to the game,” said Plymouth head coach Ryan Wolfe “We got up early and then there was a lull and Noah Pesak gave us a lift with a big hit that kind of broke it open.  They hung around and when you do that – (Plymouth starting pitcher) Brayden (Davidson) didn’t have his best stuff, he didn’t feel right, his curve ball really wasn’t there we battled, give them credit they did a good job.”

Pesak’s two out two run pinch double in the sixth did put it out of reach but it was just one of many big blows by Plymouth hitters all night as the Pilgrims pounded out 14 hits. Jeremy Drudge had a night to write home about going three for four with five RBI’s and a two run homer. Even his out was a warning track fly to Matt Kloss at the fence in left center field.

Dylan Pavey had a pair of hits and an RBI. Caleb Mikesell and Brayden Davidson added doubles.

“Our key is to get up early and we’ve done that very well so far,” said Wolfe “We had good at bats in the first inning and we were putting pressure on them, it was a good approach by our guys even the bottom half of the order coming up in the first inning. The bottom half guys getting two strike singles to roll the order over, putting the ball in play and working the middle of the field.”

While he may have felt he “struggled”, Davidson still had a great night on the mound, scattering six hits and not walking a hitter until the seventh to take his third win of the season.

“He’s an experienced pitcher and he’s a competitor,” said Wolfe “He probably went a few more pitches than I would have liked him to tonight but he wanted to go and we really haven’t extended him a lot this year so we’ll give him the rest of the week off and see about Friday.”

The Pilgrims move to 5-1 on the season with a pivotal first week of NLC play ahead. Next is a Wednesday road trip to Concord with the Pilgrims coming home to play Warsaw on Friday night. Elkhart Memorial is now 2-4.

LINESCORE

Plymouth 5 2 0   1 0 2  0  10-14-2

Elk. Mem. 0 1 0  0 0 1  0  2-6-2

WP – Davidson (3-0). LP Matt Kloss. HR – Drudge (P). 2B – Schultz (EM), Davidson (P), Mikesell (P) Pesak (P).