NORTHFIELD, Vt. - The Norwich University baseball team broke open a 1-0 game with an eight-run eighth inning to power past Plymouth State College, 9-4, in non-league baseball action Monday at Garrity Field. With the win the Cadets improve to 2-26 while Plymouth State drops to 12-22.

Norwich starting pitcher Ben Kleiner (1-2) picked up the win, twirling five innings of shutout ball before departing prior to the sixth with a 1-0 lead. The sophomore right-hander allowed only three hits in a highly effective outing while striking out one and issuing a lone walk.

The Cadets staked themselves to the 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the fifth inning, when junior OF David Maxfield led off the inning with a walk. Following two strikeouts, Maxfield advanced to second on a balk before scoring on an RBI single to right field by senior 1B Dustin Fleming.

Norwich would push across two more runs in the fifth to pad its lead to 3-0 when junior INF Joe Sleeman scored on a balk and junior C Mitch Blair reached home on an ensuing passed ball to the same hitter.    

Plymouth State managed to get one back in the top of the eighth inning when Ben Cronin scored on an RBI groundout by Anthony Vadala to make it 3-1.

The Cadets answered with six runs of their own in the home half of the frame. NU had eight different players score as they sent 11 batters to the plate.  A one-run double by Blair and RBI singles by senior OF  Travis Dyke and freshman DH Devin Cilley highlighted the inning.

Senior RHP Ryan Kelly came on to close out the game in the top of the ninth, issuing two walks before inducing a flyout to right field for the first out. After a hit-batsman, Kelly allowed a one-run single and an RBI groundout before recording the final out on a nice unassisted play by Fleming. An additional unearned run scored for the Panthers on a passed ball to account for the 9-4 final.

Senior LHP Austin Shaw worked hitless sixth and seventh innings for the Cadets, while fellow senior left-hander Ian Caird gave up one run on one hit in the eighth.

Maxfield went 3-for-3 with two walks, a double and two runs scored in his five plate appearances to lead Norwich offensively. Blair added a 2-for-2 performance for NU, scoring twice and adding the RBI double in the decisive eighth inning.

The Cadets will wrap up their season on Wednesday, May 4, when they host in-state rival St. Michael's for a non-conference doubleheader. The first game is set to start at 3 p.m.