PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Freshman
Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) went 3-for-3 and sophomore
Nicole LeBrun (Concord, N.H.) tossed her fifth complete game as Plymouth State University topped Castleton University in game one of a Little East Conference (LEC) softball doubleheader at D&M Park on Thursday.
Ly enjoyed a perfect game at the place, while senior
Madison Harris (Randolph, Mass.) drove in a pair to help the Panthers erase a 2-0 deficit in game one. Ly tripled to start the fourth and Harris knocked her in with a base hit as PSU pulled in front by a 3-2 margin. The Panthers would put the game away with a three-run fifth and LeBrun went the distance recording five strikeouts to help PSU to a 6-2 win.
Castleton again got out to the lead in game two, but Plymouth State rallied in front after scoring three times in the sixth. Harris started the rally with a one-out single and senior
Katie Burk (East Islip, N.Y.) came up with a clutch, two-run single to give the Panthers a 5-3 lead. Castleton would answer in the top of the seventh, though, and would ultimately steal the win in the tenth inning, 6-5.
With the split, Plymouth State moves to 11-16 (5-5 LEC), while Castleton goes to 14-9 and 5-3 in the Little East.
The Basics:
- Game One: Plymouth State 6, Castleton 2
- Game Two: Plymouth State 5, Castleton 6 (10 Inn.)
- Plymouth State (11-16, 5-5 LEC)
- Castleton (14-9, 5-3 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Plymouth State got the game's first hit when Ly singled through the left side to start the second. She moved up on a bunt but was caught at third on a fielder's choice by junior Sam McCann (Berlin, N.H.). Freshman Jade Guertin (Burrillville, R.I.) absolutely scorched a ball with two down, but the Spartans' first baseman snagged the screaming liner to end the inning.
- After going down in order each of the first two innings, Castleton pushed two runs across in the top of the third on two hits and a PSU throwing error.
- The Panthers came right back in the bottom of the inning. Burk ripped a single to center and moved up on an infield groundout. Senior Lauren Archambault (Rehoboth, Mass.) drove her in with a single to left and sophomore Vanessa Bryan (Stoneham, Mass.) followed with a sharp single to right. A bobble by the outfielder allowed Archambault to take third and Bryan got caught in a rundown trying to steal second, allowing Archambault to cross the plate and tie the game at 2-2.
- The Spartans got runners on second and third in the fourth, but LeBrun worked out of the jam.
- Ly smashed a triple to the gap in right center to open the fourth and Harris gave the Panthers a 3-2 lead when she smoked a single to center.
- PSU extended the lead with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Senior Niah Colby (Lunenburg, Vt.) and Archambault both singled and freshman Madison Pelletier (New Gloucester, Maine), Ly and Harris each drove in runs to the lead grew to 6-2.
- LeBrun kept the Spartans off the board the rest of the way to secure the win.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Ly was a perfect 3-for-3 with a triple at the plate with one run scored and one RBI, while Harris went 2-for-2 with a ground rule double and two RBI.
- Archambault had two hits in four at bats, stole a base, drove in a run and scored twice.
- Plymouth State banged out 11 hits in the game.
- LeBrun tossed 116 pitches in the complete game win. She struck out five and allowed just four hits and two runs (one earned) to improve to 6-4.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Castleton scratched out a run in the first and added two in the second for a 3-0 lead.
- Ly ripped a triple in the first but was caught rounding third for the final out.
- Plymouth State cut into the lead in the fifth. Junior Rachyl Parslow (Temple, N.H.) singled and Burk smacked a double. One run came home on a groundout and Archambault made it 3-2 with a single down the left field line.
- PSU pulled ahead with a three-run sixth. Harris and Guertin singled with one out and Parslow's double tied the game at 3-3. Burk followed with a two-run single to give the Panthers a 5-3 advantage.
- Castleton scored twice in the top of the seventh to tie the game and PSU went down in order in the bottom to send the game to extra innings.
- Freshman Samantha Fancher (Gales Ferry, Conn.) had a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth and was bunted to second, but the Spartans got out of the inning.
- In the tenth Castleton got a two-out double to drive in the runner placed on second for a 6-5 lead and Plymouth State was unable to plate a run in the bottom half.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Burk went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while Parslow had a double and single in five at bats, scored twice and knocked in a run.
- Every starter reached base as the Panthers had ten hits and worked three walks.
- Sophomore Alyssa Wilson (Haverhill, Mass.) worked six-plus innings, allowing four runs (three earned) and striking out six. McCann struck out three over the final four innings but was charged with the loss.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State remains at home on Saturday (Apr. 23) when Western Connecticut State University comes to town for an LEC doubleheader. Game one is set for a 12:00 p.m. start.
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