PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Freshman
Emily Antrim (Limerick, Maine) struck out five, including a key inning-ending strikeout in the sixth, to help Plymouth State University earn a split against Rhode Island College in the Little East Conference (LEC) opener for both schools on Sunday.
The teams were locked in a scoreless game until graduate student
Lauren Archambault (Rehoboth, Mass.) wrapped a two-out, bases loaded single inside the third base line for a 2-0 lead. RIC scored a run in the bottom of the inning and had the tying run at third but Antrim came up with a huge strikeout to preserve the lead as PSU would hold on for a 2-1 win.
The Anchorwomen jumped out to a 5-0 lead through the first two innings of the opener. Sophomore
Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) singlehandedly helped the Panthers mount a comeback, ripping a two-run double in the third and adding and RBI single in the fifth to make it 5-3, but the hosts got a run back in the bottom of the inning and added some insurance for the 8-3 win.
Plymouth State ends the day at 7-7 (1-1 LEC), while RIC moves to 5-9 (1-1 LEC).
The Basics:
- Game 1: Plymouth State 3, RIC 8
- Game 2: Plymouth State 2, RIC 1
- Plymouth State (7-7, 1-1 LEC)
- RIC (5-9, 1-1 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- RIC pushed five runs across in the first two innings to grab an early lead.
- Sophomore Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) and senior Rachyl Parslow (Temple, N.H.) ripped one-out singles in the third. With two down, Ly smacked a double down the right field line to score them both, cutting the deficit to 5-2.
- Ly came up clutch again in the fifth as she poked a two-out single to left to plate Parslow to make it 5-3.
- The Anchorwomen got the run back with a two-out RBI hit in the fifth, then tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth to extend the lead.
- Montelongo opened the seventh with a base hit, but the Panthers were unable to rally.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Ly, Montelongo and Archambault all had two-hit games for the Panthers.
- Ly drove in all three runs.
- Ly, Parslow and sophomore Jade Guertin (Oakland, R.I.) each doubled.
- Plymouth State had won 12 straight games against RIC.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Sophomore Madison Pelletier (New Gloucester, Maine) and Parslow singled with one down in the second, but RIC worked out of the jam.
- RIC threatened in the fifth with a sun-aided leadoff double to right. A sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third with one down. Ly made a heads-up play, though, catching a popup bunt and doubling off the runner at third to keep the game scoreless.
- Plymouth State rode the momentum into the next half inning. Junior Abby Kenison (Boscawen, N.H.) doubled and Pelletier ripped a single up the middle to put runners on the corners. After a popout, Pelletier swiped second and Montelongo walked to load the bases. Guertin came up as a pinch hitter, but her liner to left was snagged on the run. Archambault followed with a hard hit single just inside the third base line to score a pair and give PSU a 2-0 lead.
- RIC had second and third with nobody out to start the bottom half. Antrim induced a comebacker, held the runners and got the out at first, but the following hitter pushed a run across with a groundout to second. With the tying run on third, Antrim reached back for a huge strikeout to preserve the lead.
- The Anchorwomen put the tying run on with a one-out single in their final at bat, but back-to-back popups to second ended the game.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Pelletier reached base three times with a pair of singles and walk.
- Kenison had the Panthers' lone extra base hit, while Archambault drove in both runs.
- Ly (single, walk) also reached twice.
- Antrim struck out five and scattered eight hits in the complete game win. She improves to 3-2 on the season.
Up Next:
- The Panthers head to Lesley College for a non-conference double header on Tuesday (Apr. 4) starting at 3:00 p.m.
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