GORHAM, Maine – Senior
Niah Colby (Lunenburg, Vt.) had a career high three hits in the opener, but the University of Southern Maine took both ends of a Little East Conference (LEC) softball doubleheader over Plymouth State University at USM Softball Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
The Panthers took a 2-0 lead behind Colby's double and an RBI ground out in the second, but USM answered back in the third to tie the game. Colby's third hit of the game loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, but the Huskies got out of the jam without allowing a run and pulled ahead in the bottom of the inning before putting the game away sixth for a 7-2 win.
Freshman
Jade Guertin (Burrillville, R.I.) had an RBI single in the top of the fourth to pull the Panthers to within 2-1, but the Huskies took advantage of a bang-bang play at the plate to score five times in the bottom of the inning on the way to a 10-2 win.
Plymouth State slips to 12-19 (6-8 LEC), while Southern Maine is 20-13 and 11-3 in the LEC.
The Basics:
- Game One: Plymouth State 2, Southern Maine 7
- Game Two: Plymouth State 2, Southern Maine 10 (5 Inn.)
- Plymouth State (12-19, 6-8 LEC)
- Southern Maine (20-13, 11-3 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Plymouth State struck for a pair of runs in the second. Junior Rachyl Parslow (Temple, N.H.) singled and senior Madison Harris (Randolph, Mass.) walked to start the inning. With one down, Colby smacked an RBI double to left and freshman Samantha Fancher (Gales Ferry, Conn.) drove in a run with a ground out.
- The Huskies used three singles and a sacrifice bunt to tie the game in the third.
- A PSU miscue allowed Southern Maine to go in front, 3-2, with an unearned run in the fifth.
- The Panthers got back-to-back singles from Parslow and Harris to start the sixth. USM erased the lead runner on a fielder's choice, but Colby poked a single through the right side, her third hit of the game, to load the bases. USM got out of the jam as a relief pitcher came on to get a strikeout and lineout to end the threat.
- Southern Maine exploded for four runs in the bottom of the inning to take control.
- Freshman Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) ripped a double to the right center field gap to start the seventh, but USM stranded the runner to take the win.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Colby finished 3-for-3 and knocked in a run, while Ly also had a three-hit game going 3-for-4.
- The two had a double and two singles apiece.
- Parslow had two hits in four at bats and scored a run, while Harris reached twice on a single and a walk.
- Sophomore Nicole LeBrun (Concord, N.H.) worked 5.2 innings allowing five earned (seven total).
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Freshman Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) singled and junior Sam McCann (Berlin, N.H.) walked in the first, but the Huskies got out of the jam.
- USM put runners on second and third to start the bottom of the inning. The Panthers cut down a run at the plate, but a single gave the hosts a 1-0 lead.
- Southern Maine used a pair of two-out hits in the second to extend the margin to 2-0.
- The Panthers cut into the deficit in the fourth. With one down, Parslow and sophomore Vanessa Bryan (Stoneham, Mass.) walked and Guertin's single up the middle made it 2-1.
- The Huskies came right back with a five-run bottom of the frame to push the margin to 7-1.
- Montelongo and Fancher walked with two out in the fifth and Parslow's double made it 7-2.
- USM put the game away with three in the bottom of the frame to earn the win.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Parslow (double, walk) and Montelongo (single, walk) each reached base twice.
- Sophomore Alyssa Wilson (Haverhill, Mass.) struck out three over her 3.1 innings.
- Classmate Jersey Strum (Somersworth, N.H.) worked the final 1.1 innings.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State closes out the regular season with a Senior Day doubleheader against #4 Eastern Connecticut State University. Game one starts at 1:00 p.m., while Senior Day festivities will take place between games.
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