LEESBURG, Fla. – Sophomore
Nicole LeBrun (Concord, N.H.) threw a complete game shutout to lead Plymouth State University to a 2-0 win over Rivier University in the Panthers' first game of the day at THE Spring Games on Tuesday.
LeBrun scattered six hits and walked two while striking out seven in the first complete game victory of her career.
Freshman
Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) ripped a first-inning, two-run triple to jumpstart the Panthers in game two, but Ohio Wesleyan University rebounded from the slow start to rally for a 5-2 win.
Plymouth State moves to 3-4, while Rivier falls to 0-4 and OWU moves to 1-3. The Panthers continue their spring trip with games against Coast Guard and Mount Mary University tomorrow.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, Rivier 0
- Plymouth State 2, Ohio Wesleyan 5
- Plymouth State (3-4)
- Rivier (0-4)
- Ohio Wesleyan (1-3)
How it Happened (Rivier):
- The Panthers worked a pair of walks in the bottom of the first and junior Sam McCann (Berlin, N.H.) smoked a two-out double in the second but were unable to get a run across in either inning.
- Meanwhile, LeBrun was dealing after facing the minimum through three innings.
- The Panthers broke through in the bottom of the third. Senior Niah Colby (Lunenburg, Vt.) singled and advance to third before scampering home on a sacrifice fly off the bat of senior Emily Picard (Berlin, N.H.).
- Plymouth State doubled its lead in the fourth. Senior Madison Harris (Randolph, Mass.) led off with a single and was sacrificed to second before freshman Jade Guertin (Burrillville, R.I.) drove her in with a double. McCann reached on a fielder's choice when Rivier was unable to get an out, but a double play ball kept the Panthers for adding on to the lead.
- Rivier put together its only real threat in the sixth after a walk and back-to-back singles loaded the bases with nobody out, but LeBrun struck out the next two hitters and Colby made a leaping snag of a liner to keep the Raiders off the scoreboard.
- Rivier tried to rally one last time, loading the bases with two away in the seventh, but Picard threw a strike to LeBrun after a pitch got away to get the lead runner trying to score from third to end the game.
By the Numbers (Rivier):
- Colby, Ly, Harris, Guertin and McCann each recorded hits, with Ly, Guertin and McCann all doubling.
- Colby and sophomore Vanessa Bryan (Stoneham, Mass.) each walked once.
- LeBrun struck out seven in the complete game effort, allowing just six hits and two walks to earn her first win of the year.
How it Happened (Ohio Wesleyan):
- The Panthers used a two-out rally to strike early in the top of the first. After the first two batters were retired, freshman Madison Pelletier (New Gloucester, Maine) and Picard each singled and Ly followed with a two-run triple to force an early pitching change.
- Ohio Wesleyan came right back to tie the game with a pair of RBI singles in the bottom half, though.
- The score remained deadlocked at 2-2 until the bottom of the fifth, when the Battling Bishops scored three unearned runs to pull ahead, 5-2.
- Picard smacked a one-out double in the top of the sixth but was stranded and the Panthers went down in order in the seventh.
By the Numbers (Ohio Wesleyan):
- Picard (single, double) was the only player with two hits, while Ly's triple was the only other extra base hit.
- McCann was charged with five runs, though just two were earned, over the first four-plus innings. Sophomore Jersey Strum (Somersworth, N.H.) allowed two unearned runs in 1.2 innings and classmate Alyssa Wilson (Haverhill, Mass.) recorded the final out.
- Colby and Pelletier are both riding four-game hitting streaks, while Colby has reached base safely in five straight games.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State faces Coast Guard and Mount Mary University on Wednesday (Mar. 9). Games are set for 11:15 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.
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