CLERMONT, Fla. – Junior
Alyssa Wilson (Haverhill, Mass.) struck out nine and allowed just one hit in four innings while the Plymouth State University offense exploded in a ten-run second inning as PSU topped Gallaudet University, 10-0, in five innings in the first of two games at THE Spring Games on Thursday.
The Panthers kept the good vibes going in a late-inning slugfest, rallying three separate times to top Beloit College, 8-7, in nine innings in the day's second contest. PSU scored twice in the sixth to tie the score, but Beloit plated three runs in the top of the eighth. Plymouth State, down to its final out, got three straight hits to even the score at 5-5. The Buccaneers rallied with two down in the ninth to go back in front, 7-5, but again Plymouth State clawed back. PSU loaded the bases with one out and graduate student
Emily Picard (Berlin, N.H.) tied the game with a single. An error by the left fielder allowed the winning run to score from first for an 8-7, walk-off win.
Wilson was dealing from the start of the opener, striking out the side in the first. PSU's offense kicked into gear in the top of the second. Plymouth State sent 15 batters to the plate, recording six hits and taking four walks to push ten runs across the plate for the first time since April 18, 2011. Senior
Abigale McGee (Bozeman, Mont.), sophomore
Alyssa D'Alessio (Pittstown, N.J.) and Picard all recorded two RBI in the inning and Wilson cruised to the win.
Plymouth State moves to 4-6 on the season, while Gallaudet stands at 4-7 and Beloit falls to 0-7.
The Basics:
- Game 1: Plymouth State 10, Gallaudet 0 (5 Inn.)
- Game 2: Plymouth State 8, Beloit 7 (9 Inn.)
- Plymouth State (4-6)
- Gallaudet (4-7)
- Beloit (0-7)
How it Happened (Gallaudet):
- After issuing a leadoff walk, Wilson breezed through the order in the bottom of the first with three straight strikeouts.
- Freshman Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.) led off the top of the second with a base hit and a walk and fielder's choice, coupled with an error, gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead. Senior Rachyl Parslow (Temple, N.H.) singled to load the bases and McGee drew a walk to double the margin.
- A third run scored on a passed ball and another walk reloaded the bases. D'Alessio knocked in two with a single and Picard followed with a two-run double to push the margin to 7-0.
- Sophomore Jade Guertin (Oakland, R.I.) and Parslow added RBI singles and McGee's sac fly pushed the margin to 10-0.
- The lead was more than enough for Wilson, who cruised through the second. Gallaudet's only threat came in the third. The Bison worked back-to-back walks to start the frame before Wilson got her fifth strikeout of the game. An infield hit loaded the bases, but Wilson struck out the next two hitters to preserve the shutout, before adding another two K's in the fourth.
- Junior Nicole LeBrun (Concord, N.H.) came on in relief in the fifth, striking out two more batters in the dominating win.
By the Numbers (Gallaudet):
- Wilson's nine strikeouts were the second highest total of her career, trailing just an 11-K performance against WestConn last April.
- Wilson and LeBrun combined to strikeout 11 of 20 batters faced.
- Picard reached base three times with a single, double and walk. She drove in two, scored a run and added a stolen base for good measure.
- Parslow also had a two-hit game, driving in a run and scoring once.
- Sophomore Madison Pelletier (New Gloucester, Maine) walked twice and scored a pair of runs.
How it Happened (Beloit):
- Beloit scored a pair of runs without the benefit of a hit in the top of the second.
- Sophomore Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) doubled with two down in the third but was stranded.
- PSU threatened again in the fourth as Parslow ripped a two-out double and sophomore Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) singled, but the Buccaneers went to the bullpen and a groundout ended the inning.
- Plymouth State tied the game in the sixth. Parslow was hit by a pitch to start the inning and was bunted to second. Picard and graduate student Lauren Archambault (Rehoboth, Mass.) smashed back-to-back doubles to even the game at 2-2.
- The Panthers had a chance at a walk-off win with runners on the corners and two down in the seventh, but Beloit got out of it with a comebacker to the pitcher.
- Beloit looked poised to earn its first win of the year after scoring three in the top of the eighth, but PSU had different plans. The first two hitters made out, but Guertin and Ly ripped back-to-back doubles to cut the deficit to 5-4 and Nezuch singled to tie the game.
- The Buccaneers used a two-out rally of their own to go back in front, 7-5, in the ninth, but again PSU clawed back. With one down, Parslow reached on an infield hit and Montelongo followed with a bunt single to load the bases. Picard followed with a base hit to left to tie the score and the Beloit outfielder misplayed the ball, allowing Montelongo to cross the plate with the winning run.
By the Numbers (Beloit):
- The Panthers banged out 15 hits, including six doubles. Ly and Parslow led the hit parade with three hits apiece. Ly doubled twice, going 3-for-5 with a run and RBI, while Parslow was 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.
- Montelongo went 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored, while Picard singled, doubled scored a run and drove in three.
- LeBrun allowed two earned over six full innings, striking out six, while Pelletier gave up five runs (two earned) in her 2.2 innings.
- Sophomore Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) got the win after getting a strikeout in .1 innings.
- The game lasted just shy of three hours.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State wraps up its Florida trip against a pair of regional opponents on Friday (Mar. 17). The Panthers face off against New England College at 9:00 a.m., then cap the trip against Western New England at 2:00 p.m.
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