BOSTON, Mass. – Sophomore
Nicole LeBrun (Concord, N.H.) and junior
Sam McCann (Berlin, N.H.) tossed a combined shutout to life Plymouth State University to a win in game one of a Little East Conference (LEC) softball doubleheader at the University of Massachusetts Boston on Saturday afternoon.
Plymouth State scored four times in the fifth inning, while the duo combined to strike out eight and scatter just six hits in a 4-0 win in game one.
UMass Boston kick started game two with a three run first inning. PSU cut into the lead with a run in the sixth and brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the seventh, but the Beacons were able to hold on for the split.
Plymouth State moves to 10-15 (4-4 LEC), while UMass Boston ends the day at 16-10 and 6-4 in the LEC.
The Basics:
- Game One: Plymouth State 4, UMass Boston 0
- Game Two: Plymouth State 1, UMass Boston 3
- Plymouth State (10-15, 4-4 LEC)
- UMass Boston (16-10, 6-4 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Both teams put two runners on in the first inning, but neither was able to score.
- Senior Madison Harris (Randolph, Mass.) doubled, and classmate Niah Colby (Lunenburg, Vt.) walked and stole a base to put two runners in scoring position with one down in the second, but the Beacons got an out at the plate on a fielder's choice and a lineout ended the threat.
- LeBrun got a huge strikeout and a fly ball to left field to strand a runner at third base and preserve the scoreless game in the third.
- The Panthers broke through in the fifth. Senior Katie Burk (East Islip, N.Y.) singled up the middle and classmate Lauren Archambault (Rehoboth, Mass.) reached on an infield hit. A ground out advanced the runners and Burk scored when sophomore Abby Kenison (Boscawen, N.H.) reached on a fielder's choice.
- Freshman Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) knocked in another run when the Beacons' attempted to get an out at home off her bunt, but Archambault beat the throw to the plate for a 2-0 lead and McCann ripped a ball that the shortstop couldn't handle to plate two more for a 4-0 advantage.
- UMB attempted to rally with two down in the sixth, but McCann came on in relief to get a clutch strikeout and strand a pair of runners, then closed the door with a perfect seventh.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Harris finished 2-for-3 with a double, while sophomore Vanessa Bryan (Stoneham, Mass.) had a pair of singles in four at bats.
- Archambault went 1-for-3 with a walk and stolen base.
- LeBrun had another excellent outing after going 5.2 scoreless innings. She struck out five and scattered six hits.
- McCann picked up the save by retiring all four batters she faced, including three by strikeout.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- UMass Boston jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first.
- Bryan took two bases on a Beacons' error to open the fourth, but the hosts retired the next three batters to strand her at second.
- Junior Rachyl Parslow (Temple, N.H.) reached on an infield single with one away in the fifth, but a flyout and ground ball ended the threat.
- Archambault and Bryan smacked back-to-back singles to put runners on the corner to start the sixth. Harris lifted a sacrifice fly to center to cut the deficit to 3-1, but a lineout ended the inning.
- The Panthers put the tying runs on base after back-to-back walks with two away in the seventh, but UMB escaped with the win after a groundout ended the game.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Bryan went 2-for-3, while Archambault, Pelletier and Parslow had PSU's other base hits.
- Colby and McCann worked the seventh inning walks, the only two free passes the Beacons handed out.
- Pelletier allowed three runs (two earned) over her four-plus innings, while sophomore Alyssa Wilson (Haverhill, Mass.) struck out two and allowed just one hit while recording the final six outs.
- The teams have evenly split the last 18 meetings.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State hosts Castleton University in another LEC matchup on Thursday (Apr. 21) at D&M Park. First pitch for game one is set for 3:30 p.m.
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