Johnson and Puccini tame Panthers for RIC

            PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Sophomore Emily Johnson (West Kingston, R.I.) and junior Kyle Puccini (North Dighton, Mass.) held Plymouth State University to just five hits and one run Saturday afternoon as Rhode Island College opened up Little East Conference softball action with a doubleheader sweep (9-1, 1-0) of the Panthers at the Bazar Softball Complex.

            Johnson (6-2) allowed two hits and struck out three in a five-inning, 9-1 victory in game one. Puccini (2-1) spun a gem of her own in the nightcap, firing a three-hit shutout with five strikeouts in a 1-0 shutout win.

            An eight-run third inning helped the Anchorwomen dispose of the Panthers in game one. Kayla Jandreau reached on an error to open the frame and things quickly went south for PSU. With the bases loaded and one away, senior Amanda Perry knocked in two with a single.  Senior Laura DeNoncour knocked in two more with a single and freshman left fielder Stacy Pokora doubled in a pair. Both Kayla and Marissa Jandreau plated runs with RBI hits in the frame as well.

            Plymouth State mustered some offense in the top of the fourth on freshman Megan Fifield's (Biddeford, Maine) RBI single. RIC was able to end the game early, gaining an eight-run advantage in the bottom of the frame by plating a run on a Panther error.

            One run was all Puccini needed to secure a win in game two, and the Jandreau sisters once again provided the offense. Kayla led off the bottom of the first with a triple and Marisa promptly delivered an RBI single for contest's lone run.  Puccini set the side down in order three times over the course of the game and the Panthers never had a runner advance past first base. PSU freshman pitcher Amber White (Middleboro, Mass.) was the hard luck loser (4-5), allowing just the one run on five hits in six innings of work.

            Fifield, who went 2-for-4 with an RBI, was the lone Plymouth State player with a multiple hit performance.

            In upcoming action, Rhode Island College will travel to Bridgewater State on Tuesday for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.  PSU's schedule for the week is up in the air due to snow on the fields in New Hampshire.

(Courtesy of Rhode Island College Sports Information) 

-- 30 --