Box Score Dylan Kane threw seven innings of two-hit ball, leading Middlebury (7-11) to a 6-0 shutout win over Norwich (3-17) on Forbes Field. The junior faced just two batters over the minimum, striking out a pair as he moved to 1-1 on the season. The Panthers return to action on Friday and Saturday when they host Wesleyan in a three-game NESCAC West series.
Middlebury took a 3-0 lead in the third inning on five hits. John Luke and Garrett Werner singled with Luke moving up on a wild pitch. With one out, Alex Kelly laid down a perfect bunt single, as the runners held until a throwing error by the catcher allowed Luke to score. An infield single by Hunter Merryman plated Werner, while Kelly scored on a SAC fly to right by Tom Rafferty.
Kelly singled down the right field line to lead off the fifth and later stole second. He advanced to third on a single to center by Merryman. Following a line-out double play, Kelly scored when Michael Morris singled to right center to make it a 4-0 game.
The Panthers added a run in the eighth inning when Dylan Sinnickson reached on an infield single and stole second. Max Araya drew a walk as he and Sinnickson advanced on a SAC bunt by Luke. Sinnickson scored the game's final run as he crossed the plate on a wild pitch with Werner at bat.
Edmund Murphy tossed the final two innings for Middlebury, allowing just one hit while striking out four of seven batters he faced. Merryman finished the day 3-4, while Kelly was 2-5 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. Morris and Sinnickson each went 2-4 to round out the team's leading hitters.
Jacob Muetterties (0-3) suffered the loss for Norwich, allowing three runs and six hits over the first four innings of the game. Devin Cilley, John Flanagan and Dustin Shimkus each singled for the Cadets.
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