PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Junior
Niah Colby (Lunenburg, Vt.) smashed a two-out RBI triple to right field and graduate student
Jen Landers (Berlin, N.H.) followed with a three-bagger of her own as Plymouth State University rallied past the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth to split of a pair of Little East Conference (LEC) softball games at D&M Park on Thursday afternoon.
Trailing 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth, Colby's triple tied the game and Landers put PSU ahead for good. The Panthers would tack on to win game two by a 7-4 margin. UMass Dartmouth took the opener, 7-1, in a game that was much closer than the final score, as the Corsairs scored five times in the top of the seventh.
With the split Plymouth State moves to 12-8 and 7-3 in the LEC. UMass Dartmouth ends the day at 7-12-1 overall and 7-7 in league play.
The Basics:
- Game 1: Plymouth State 1, UMass Dartmouth 7
- Game 2: Plymouth State 7, UMass Dartmouth 4
- Plymouth State (12-8, 7-3 LEC)
- UMass Dartmouth (7-12-1, 7-7 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Neither team was able to muster much offense in the opener. UMD put a runner on third with two down in the first, but a ground ball to third ended the threat. In the bottom half, freshman Alexis Michon (Montville, Conn.) had a two-out single, but was stranded.
- Sophomore Sam McCann (Berlin, N.H.) led off the second with a base hit, but UMD retired the next three batters in order.
- The Corsairs manufactured a run in the fifth on a single, stolen base and some heads up base running on an infield hit.
- The visitors pushed the lead to 2-0 after cashing in on a leadoff triple in the sixth.
- With one down in the seventh, UMD used three straight hits to push the lead to 3-0 before crossing the plate four more times in the frame to go ahead 7-0.
- Michon singled to start the bottom of the inning and moved up on a wild pitch and ground out. McCann followed with an infield hit to drive in a run, but PSU was unable to get any closer.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Graduate student Caitlyn Miller (Lee, N.H.) was the hard-luck loser, allowing seven runs (only three earned) over 6.1 innings. She struck out three but fell to 5-4 on the year.
- McCann led the offense, going 3-for-3 at the plate and driving in the Panthers' only run. Michon had a two-hit game, while senior Mina Shaw (Mars, Pa.) had PSU's only other hit.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- PSU got some runs on the board early in game two. Landers reached on an infield hit with one out, and the Panthers caught a break when an infield popup landed untouched to put two runners on. McCann came up with a clutch, two-out hit to drive both runners in for a quick 2-0 lead.
- Michon was in control in the circle, facing the minimum through three innings.
- The Corsairs got an unearned run back in the top of the fourth to cut into the deficit, then pulled ahead in the fifth. UMD opened the frame with a single and double and a sac fly and run-scoring groundout gave the visitors a 3-2 advantage.
- Sophomore Rachyl Parslow (Temple, N.H.) worked a walk to open the bottom of the inning and a well-executed sacrifice moved her into scoring position. Parslow went to third on a groundout, setting up Colby for the game-tying triple well over the right fielder's head. Landers followed with a ball to nearly the same exact spot as the Panthers rallied for a 4-3 lead.
- Plymouth State tacked on some insurance in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Lauren Archambault (Rehoboth, Mass.) walked and McCann singled and a bunt moved them both into scoring position. Freshman Nicole LeBrun (Concord, N.H.) reached on an error to make it 5-3, then stole second and the throw was wild, allowing another run to score. Freshman Lauren Aparo (Bristol, Conn.) followed with a run scoring single as PSU pushed the margin to 7-3.
- The Corsairs used back-to-back doubles to get a run back in the top of the seventh, but Michon closed the door.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Michon went the distance, scattering seven hits and allowing three earned while striking out three to improve to 7-3.
- McCann continued her strong day at the plate with a 2-for-3 effort, including a run scored and two RBI.
- Colby and Landers had PSU's only extra base hits, with Landers also posting a multi-hit game.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State travels to Rhode Island College for a pair of LEC games tomorrow (May 7).
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