PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore
Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) struck out six in a complete game effort, but the University of Southern Maine got past Plymouth State University in a pair of Little East Conference (LEC) softball games at D&M Park on Thursday.
McGrath limited the Huskies to just six hits in the complete game effort, but USM eked out a 2-1 win in the opener. Freshman
Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.) slammed a leadoff double in the sixth, but was stranded, and the Panthers had the tying run at second with one down in the seventh, but the Huskies escaped both jams for the win.
USM grabbed a two-run lead in the first inning of game two and leaned on a dominant start to take game two, 5-1. The Huskies maintained a narrow, 3-1 edge until tacking on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh. Plymouth State attempted to claw back in the final at bat, loading the bases on three singles, but the Panthers were unable to rally.
Plymouth State slips to 13-17 (4-8 LEC), while Southern Maine is 17-15 and 8-4 in conference action.
The Basics:
- Game 1: Plymouth State 1, Southern Maine 2
- Game 2: Plymouth State 1, Southern Maine 5
- Plymouth State (13-17, 4-8 LEC)
- Southern Maine (17-15, 8-4 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- PSU put a pair of runners on in the first but was unable to break through.
- The Huskies got a run in the third to take a 1-0 lead.
- Graduate student Lauren Archambault (Rehoboth, Mass.) walked and was bunted to second. Sophomore Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) took ball four and both runners moved up on a wild pitch, before Archambault scampered home on a wild pitch to tie the game.
- USM went back in front with a run in the top of the fifth.
- Nezuch roped a double to right center to start the sixth, but the Huskies escaped with the lead intact.
- Sophomore Madison Pelletier (New Gloucester, Maine) reached on an error to start the bottom of the seventh. Pinch runner Rachyl Parslow (Temple, N.H.) was bunted to second, but USM got back-to-back strikeouts to hold on for the win.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Nezuch's double was the lone extra base hit for the Panthers, while freshman Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) and sophomore Jade Guertin (Oakland, R.I.) each singled.
- Archambault reached twice with a pair of walks and scored the lone PSU run.
- McGrath struck out six in the complete game effort. She allowed two runs, though just one was earned.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Southern Maine grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the first.
- The Huskies added a run in the third to extend the lead.
- Parslow reached base to start the third and was bunted to second. With two down, Bessette singled to right and a USM error allowed Parslow to cross the plate to make it 3-1.
- Southern Maine attempted to add to the lead in the fourth, but Parslow fired a strike to gun down a runner at the plate and maintain the two-run deficit.
- The Huskies tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the seventh.
- Guertin smacked a single up the middle to start the bottom of the frame, and with one down Pelletier and Parslow had back-to-back singles to load the bases. USM escaped with the win, though, as the Huskies were able to retire the next two batters.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- The PSU offense was limited to four singles – one apiece for Bessette, Guertin, Pelletier and Parslow.
- Ly and sophomore Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) worked walks.
- Freshman Emily Antrim (Limerick, Maine) scattered nine hits over seven innings, but suffered the loss.
- The Huskies have won 12 of the last 13 meetings,
Up Next:
- Plymouth State heads to Eastern Connecticut State for a pair of conference games on Friday (Apr. 28).
– 30 –
