(Colby Box) (Union Box)

            CLERMONT, Fla. – The Plymouth State University softball team finished up its Florida schedule Friday morning with a pair of tough losses to northern schools, leaving the Panthers with just one win in nine games on the southern trip.

            The Panthers fell to Colby College in the first game Friday, 10-2 in six innings, and dropped a 5-1 decision to Union College (N.Y.) in the second game.  PSU drops to 1-8 overall, with six of the eight losses to teams with winning records last season, including Union, which finished 31-6 with an ECAC Championship.

            Plymouth State took a first-inning lead against Colby when senior Kay LaBrie (Somersworth, N.H.) singled, stole second, went to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Heather Blase (Milford, N.H.)  After the Mules countered with two runs in the bottom of the first, PSU tied the game 2-2 in the top of the second when senior Rachel Pothier (Reading, Mass.) and junior Andrea Pydynkowski (Danvers, Mass.) singled and pinch runner Hilary Lemelin (Milan, N.H.) scored after a sacrifice bunt and a wild pitch.

            That ended up as the extent of the Panther offense, and Colby pulled away with single runs in the bottom of the second and third innings, two in the fourth and four in the sixth to end the game.  Both teams changed pitchers in the second inning, with sophomore Ali Keith (Northfield, N.H.) coming on in relief of freshman Dom Heres (Salem, N.H.) for PSU.

            PSU got just three hits off Union senior Ali Ippoliti (Victory Mills, N.Y.) in the second game.  The Dutchwomen scored three runs in the first inning and added two more in the fifth and kept the Panthers at bay all game.

            Plymouth State scored its only run in the third inning when sophomore Amy Green (Atkinson, N.H.) walked and scored on a triple by Blase.  The only other hits for PSU were singles by LaBrie and sophomore Amanda Salois (Rehoboth, Mass.)

            The Panthers will look to get the team back on track in the opening of the New England schedule on Thursday, Apr. 1 at Salem State College (3:30 p.m.)  The Little East Conference opener is Saturday, Apr. 3, at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (1:00 p.m.) 

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