PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior Madison Harris (Randolph, Mass.) blasted a three-run homer in game two, but #4 Eastern Connecticut State University topped Plymouth State University in both ends of a Little East Conference (LEC) softball doubleheader at D&M Park on Saturday.
 
The teams were locked in a tight game in the early going of game one when senior Lauren Archambault (Rehoboth, Mass.) scampered home on a wild pitch to pull the Panthers to within 3-1. Eastern Connecticut got a run back in the fifth, then exploded for six runs in the sixth to earn a 9-1, six-inning victory in the opener.
 
Harris launched a three-run shot in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 lead in the nightcap, but ECSU answered right back with a three-run second. The Panthers pulled even when freshman Samantha Fancher (Gales Ferry, Conn.) smacked a two-out single to center to score classmate Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine), but scored three unanswered in the sixth to earn a 7-4 win.
 
Between games, Plymouth State honored its graduating seniors in a brief on-field ceremony; Niah Colby (Lunenburg, Vt.), Emily Picard (Berlin, N.H.), Katie Burk (East Islip, N.Y.), Harris and Archambault.
 
Plymouth State ends the regular season at 12-21 (6-10 LEC), while Eastern Connecticut winds up at 34-4 and 15-1 in the Little East.
 
PSU enters the LEC Tournament as the sixth seed and will square off against third-seeded University of Massachusetts Dartmouth on day one of the championship on Wednesday (May 4). As the top seed, all tournament games will be played at Eastern Connecticut.
  
The Basics:

• Game One: Plymouth State 1, #4 Eastern Connecticut 9 (6 Inn.)
• Game Two: Plymouth State 4, #4 Eastern Connecticut 7
  • Plymouth State (12-21, 6-10 LEC)
  • #4 Eastern Connecticut (34-4, 15-1 LEC)

How it Happened (Game One):

• Eastern Connecticut used a two-out rally to grab a run in the first.
• Fancher dropped a single in front of the left fielder to start the bottom of the inning and was bunted to second, but ECSU got back-to-back strikeouts to shut down the rally.
• The Warriors added a run in the second to push the lead to 2-0.
• Archambault ripped a single up the middle to open the fourth. After stealing second, she moved to third on a ground out and scampered home on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 2-1.
• Eastern Connecticut got the run right back in the fifth, then pushed six across in the sixth to extend the margin to 9-1.
• Freshman Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) doubled with two out in the bottom of the inning and sophomore Vanessa Bryan (Stoneham, Mass.) singled. Junior Sam McCann (Berlin, N.H.) worked a walk to load the bases, but ECSU slammed the door with a strikeout.

By the Numbers (Game One):

• The top four batters in PSU's lineup – Fancher, Archambault, Ly and Bryan – each had a hit, with Ly's double the only to go for extra bases.
• McCann walked twice.
• The Panthers were 2-for-2 in stolen base attempts.
• Sophomore Nicole LeBrun (Concord, N.H.) struck out five in her 5.1 innings, but ran out of gas in the sixth. McCann came in to record the last two outs.

 
How it Happened (Game Two):

• The Warriors plated a run in the first, but Plymouth State came right back in the bottom of the inning. Archambault and junior Rachyl Parslow (Temple, N.H.) worked walks and Harris launched a three-run shot to deep left center for a 3-1 lead.
• Eastern Connecticut came right back with a three-spot in the second and the game remained 4-3 until the fifth.
• With one down Burk singled and Montelongo, who entered as a pinch runner, stole second. Montelongo moved up on a ground out and Fancher tied the game with an RBI single to center.
• The Warriors erupted for three runs in the top of the sixth to go back in front, 7-4.
• PSU brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the frame but was unable to chip away.

By the Numbers (Game Two):

• Fancher finished 1-for-4 with an RBI, while Harris, Burk and Colby all went 1-for-3.
• Harris drove in three runs with her first homer of the season.
• Sophomore Alyssa Wilson (Haverhill, Mass.) struck out four over her 5.2 innings, falling to 4-4 on the year.
• McCann walked a batter, but otherwise recorded the last four outs on three ground balls and a flyout.

 
Up Next:

• The sixth-seeded Panthers open the double elimination LEC Tournament against third-seeded UMass Dartmouth on Wednesday (May 4) in a game played at Eastern Connecticut's Clyde Washburne Field.

 
 
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