The Danbury Westerners playoff hopes came to a screeching halt on Tuesday as the Plymouth Pilgrims swept them in a doubleheader. The Pilgrims won the first game by a score of 7-2 and the second 13-1. The two wins pushed Plymouth to a game up on Ocean State for first place in the Southern Division and their magic number to clinch first place is down to one. The Pilgrims rode a six-run third inning in the first game and three big innings in the second game to the two victories. The second game also featured two position players pitching and three pitchers batting for the Westerners. 

The first game was scoreless until the third inning when the Pilgrims put up six runs. Max Flower (University of California Berkeley) hit a three-run homerun and William Homza (Brown University) had a two-run shot. The other run came across on a bases loaded walk. The Westerners got a run in each the fourth and seventh innings, but Plymouth added an insurance run in the sixth on their way to the 7-2 win. 

Austin Kullman (University of Cincinnati) got the win, giving up two hits and two walks over three scoreless innings. Getting the loss was Nick Gallagher (Binghamton University), giving up six runs in 2.2 innings. 

In the second game, Plymouth got out to another big lead with four runs in the second and three in the third. Nick Viscariello (Bryant University) had a two-RBI single and Cam Walsh (Northeastern University) had an RBI single as part of the big second inning. The big swing in the third inning was a two-RBI double off the bat of Elijah Dunham (Indiana University). The Westerners got their only run of the game on a sac-fly in the fourth before the Pilgrims put the game away with a six-run sixth. 

In that sixth inning, the six runs came across on just two hits and the Westerners used two outfielders on the mound. Chris Kanios (Central Connecticut State University) was unable to record an out and gave up a run on one hit and one walk. Colin Ridley (University of Maine Orono) faced three batters and retired all three in order with a groundout to first, a pop out to second, and a fly-out to center. 

Then in the seventh inning, three pitchers stepped up to the plate for the Westerners. Trey McLoughlin (Fairfield University) went down on strikes, Greg Satriale (Binghamton University) grounded out to second, and Peter Horn (Fairfield University) grounded out to shortstop. 

Chase Solesky (Tulane University) got the win in the second game of the doubleheader, giving up one run on five hits over six innings. He walked none and struck out six. Brian Rodriguez (Northeastern University) was handed the loss, giving up four runs in two innings. 

Up next for the Westerners will be another doubleheader against the Pilgrims on Thursday, if necessary. If the Pilgrims can lock up first place before then, they will not need to make the trip to Danbury, but if first place is still up for grabs, the Westerners will conclude their season at home.