PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Plymouth State University got a dominant start out of freshman
Emily Antrim (Limerick, Maine) and scored seven runs in the fifth inning to top the University of Massachusetts Boston, 10-2, in game one of a Little East Conference double header at D&M Park on Saturday.
Trailing 3-2 with one down and the tying run on second in the last of the seventh inning of game two, the Panthers appeared to tie the game on a clutch double by sophomore
Madison Pelletier (New Gloucester, Mass.), but umpires ruled PSU sent the wrong hitter to the plate and placed the runner back on second base. Plymouth State still rallied, ultimately loading the bases with two away, but the Beacons escaped with a game-ending strikeout to earn the split.
UMass Boston used a well-placed single for a 2-0 lead in the third inning of game one, but the Panthers scored in the bottom of the inning, then took the lead in the fourth on an RBI single by freshman
Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.) and sacrifice fly from senior
Sam McCann (Berlin, N.H.). PSU exploded for seven runs on six hits, two walks and an error in the last of the fifth to take the 10-2 win.
Plymouth State moves to 12-12 (3-3 LEC), while the Beacons go to 17-9 and 4-4 in league play.
The Basics:
- Game 1: Plymouth State 10, UMass Boston 2 (5 Inn.)
- Game 2: Plymouth State 2, UMass Boston 3
- Plymouth State (12-12, 3-3 LEC)
- UMass Boston (17-9, 4-4 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- The Beacons broke through with two runs in the third.
- Plymouth State came right back in the bottom of the inning. Nezuch and graduate student Lauren Archambault (Rehoboth, Mass.) worked walks and sophomore Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) dropped an RBI single in front of the center fielder. Both runners moved up on the throw, but the Beacons got out of the inning with a 2-1 lead after a ground out.
- Senior Rachyl Parslow (Temple, N.H.) and sophomore Jade Guertin (Oakland, R.I.) had back-to-back singles to open the fourth and were bunted over. Nezuch followed with a run-scoring single to center and McCann's sacrifice fly to the fence in left field gave PSU the lead, 3-2.
- Plymouth State put the game away in the fifth. Graduate student Emily Picard (Berlin, N.H.) smacked a single to center and Parslow reached on a fielder's choice when a bad throw allowed both runners to be safe. Guertin loaded the bases with a perfect bunt single and Nezuch roped a bases clearing double to the left centerfield gap to make it 6-2. A walk and sacrifice put runners on second and third before Archambault dropped down a bunt hit to score another run. Ly worked a walk to load the bases and Picard ended the game with a two-run double.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Guertin had her first three-hit game of the season and scored a pair of runs.
- Nezuch went 2-for-2 with a walk, double, four RBI and two runs scored, while Picard had a double, single and two RBI in four at bats.
- Archambault reached base four times with a single and three walks.
- Antrim needed just 69 pitches to go the distance, allowing two runs on five hits to improve to 4-4.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- The Beacons had frequent traffic on the bases, but sophomore Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) escaped multiple jams thanks to a strong defense. UMB put two runners on with one down in the first, but Archambault turned a line drive into a double play.
- Plymouth State had runners on second and third with two down in the bottom of the frame, but a strikeout ended the threat.
- UMass Boston had runners at the corners with two away in the second, but sophomore Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) made a nice play on a hot shot to third to record the final out.
- The Panthers took the lead in the fourth. Ly walked and was sacrificed to second. With two down, pinch runner Nicole LeBrun (Concord, N.H.) scored on a clutch single from Guertin for a 1-0 lead. Freshman Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) followed with a base hit to center and Nezuch smacked a single to right to make it 2-0.
- UMB used three straight singles to load the bases with one down in the sixth, ending McGrath's day, and the visitors went ahead on three walks for a 3-2 lead.
- With one out in the seventh, Nezuch doubled to the right centerfield gap and Pelletier followed with a double down the left field line to tie the game. The umpires ruled McCann should have been at bat, however, forcing Nezuch back to second and calling Pelletier out. Montelongo beat out an infield hit and Archambault walked to load the bases, but a strikeout ended the rally.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Nezuch had two of the team's five hits, including the only extra base hit.
- Montelongo reached twice on a single and walk,
- McGrath allowed three runs in 5.1 innings.
- McCann faced two batters in the sixth before giving way to Pelletier, who struck out four of the six hitters she faced.
- The teams have evenly split the last 20 meetings.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State visits Castleton for a pair of league games on Tuesday (Apr. 18) starting at 3:00 p.m.
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