LEESBURG, Fla. – Sophomore
Alyssa Wilson (Haverhill, Mass.) and classmate
Nicole LeBrun (Concord, N.H.) both went the distance and allowed just one earned run apiece as Plymouth State University swept past US Coast Guard Academy, 6-5, and Mount Mary University, 12-1, at THE Spring Games on Wednesday.
Coast Guard took advantage of a sloppy start to score four unearned runs in the top of the first of the opener, but the Panthers battled back to take a 5-4 lead into the fifth. The Bears tied the game in the top of the fifth, but LeBrun singled to start the bottom of the sixth and plated the winning run on a passed ball with two outs.
LeBrun was in control of the circle for the entirety of game two, not allowing a hit until the fifth inning. By that time the Panthers already had a 5-1 lead but put the game away with a seven run sixth inning. Senior
Lauren Archambault (Rehoboth, Mass.) went 4-for-4 from the leadoff spot as the Panthers banged out 14 hits.
With the sweep, Plymouth State improves to 5-4 on the season. Coast Guard moves to 1-3, while Mount Mary goes to 3-8.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 6, Coast Guard 5
- Plymouth State 12, Mount Mary 1 (6 Inn.)
- Plymouth State (5-4)
- Coast Guard (1-3)
- Mount Mary (3-8)
How it Happened (Coast Guard):
- The Panthers got off to a rough start after giving up a single, back-to-back errors, two more base hits and a walk to spot Coast Guard four unearned runs in the top of the first.
- Plymouth State came right back in the bottom of the inning, though, when senior Katie Burk (East Islip, N.Y.) scored on a two-out single by freshman Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.). Senior Madison Harris (Randolph, Mass.) followed with a booming double to score Ly and cut the deficit to 4-2.
- Wilson cruised after the first, facing just one over the minimum after retiring the side in order in the top of the fourth.
- Harris and sophomore Kacie Johnston (Campton, N.H.) singled to start the bottom half. LeBrun drove in a run with an RBI groundout and a single off the bat of freshman Alyssa D'Alessio (Pittstown, N.J.) tied the game at four. Two batters later, Burk's single gave the Panthers a 5-4 lead.
- The Bears loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fifth, but Wilson got a groundball force out at home for the first out. The next batter ripped the ball to centerfield to tie the game, but the Panthers cut down the go-ahead run at the plate and doubled off a runner trying to advance.
- LeBrun singled to open the bottom of the sixth, was bunted to second and took third and home on a pair of passed balls to give PSU a 6-5 lead, and Wilson closed out the game in the top of the seventh.
By the Numbers (Coast Guard):
- Wilson struck out six and allowed just one earned run over seven full innings to improve to 2-0. She leads the team with a 0.70 ERA in four appearances.
- Burk, Ly, Harris and LeBrun all had two hits, with Harris' double the only extra base knock.
- Ly's multi-hit game was her third of the season, tops on the team.
How it Happened (Mount Mary):
- Archambault kicked off the game with a base hit to center and moved to third on a one-out hit from freshman Madison Pelletier (New Gloucester, Maine), then scored as part of a double steal. Freshman Jade Guertin (Burrillville, R.I.) added an RBI single for a quick 2-0 lead.
- PSU doubled its lead in the third when freshman Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) smashed a screamer to left field after Archambault singled again. Montelongo raced around the bases for an inside the park home run and a 4-0 advantage.
- Archambault doubled to open the fifth and scored on Pelletier's ground out two batters later to push the margin to 5-0.
- LeBrun hadn't allowed a hit through the first four innings, but Mount Mary got runners on second and third with two down and the Blue Angels got a run back on a wild pitch.
- Plymouth State blew the game open in the sixth. The Panthers loaded the bases with one out and Archambault drove in one with her fourth hit of the game. PSU had a runner cut down at the plate, but Pelletier and Burk followed with two-run hits and after a double steal, sophomore Vanessa Bryan (Stoneham, Mass.) got her second hit of the inning to score two more and push the margin to 12-1.
By the Numbers (Mount Mary):
- Archambault jumpstarted the Panthers going 4-for-4 with a double, four runs scored and one RBI atop the lineup.
- Guertin and Bryan each had three hits, while Pelletier went 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored.
- PSU stole five bases in the game.
- LeBrun struck out seven and allowed just three hits and one run to improve to 2-1, lowering her ERA to 1.38. It was her second straight complete game effort. She has struck out 17 in 20.1 innings thus far, both team highs.
Up Next:
- The Panthers wrap up the spring trip with two more games on Thursday (Mar. 10). PSU squares off against Simmons University at 2:45 p.m. and Haverford College at 5:00 p.m.
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