NASHUA, N.H. – Freshman
Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) had her second three-hit game of the season and Plymouth State University erupted for a season-high 13 runs in game two to earn a split with Rivier University in a non-conference softball double header at Raider Diamond on Thursday night.
The Panthers held a 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth, but Rivier tied the game with a five-run frame. PSU answered right back with five runs in the fifth and added another three in the sixth to take the opener by a 13-6 margin. Bessette had three hits, including a double, while sophomore
Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) picked up the win with 3.1 innings of excellent relief work.
Rivier used a two-run shot in the bottom of the first to take an early lead in game one. The Panthers pulled within 2-1 with a run in the fifth, but the hosts answered right back with another two runs in the sixth. PSU got one back in the final at bat but was unable to complete the comeback to fall by a 4-2 score.
Plymouth State ends the day at 10-8, while Rivier is now 6-14.
The Basics:
- Game 1: Plymouth State 2, Rivier 4
- Game 2: Plymouth State 13, Rivier 6
- Plymouth State (10-8)
- Rivier (6-14)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Bessette ripped a one-out double in the top of the first but was stranded at second.
- Rivier used a hit batter and two-run shot just over the left field fence to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the frame.
- PSU tried to rally with two down in the second as an error and single from freshman Keelie Wells (Milford, N.H.) put the tying runs on base, but a ground out ended the threat.
- Sophomore Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) reached on a fielder's choice in the fifth and moved up on a wild pitch. She took third on a ground out and raced home on a wild pitch to cut the margin to 2-1. Classmate Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) followed with a single and senior Sam McCann (Berlin, N.H.) walked, but a strikeout left the tying run in scoring position.
- PSU loaded the bases in the sixth on singles by sophomore Jade Guertin (Oakland, R.I.) and Wells and a Montelongo walk, but the Panthers were unable to get the big hit to pull even.
- Rivier tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the inning to make it 4-1.
- Ly singled and came around to score on Guertin's RBI hit with two away in the seventh, but that was as close as the Panthers would get.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Plymouth State outhit the Raiders by an 11-9 margin.
- Ly, Guertin and Wells all had two hit games, while Montelongo (single, walk) also reached base twice.
- Freshman Emily Antrim (Limerick, Maine) allowed all four runs over 5.1 innings, while junior Nicole LeBrun (Concord, N.H.) had a strikeout among her two outs recorded.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Rivier put two on with a pair of one-out walks in the bottom of the first, but the PSU defense turned a double play to keep the game scoreless.
- The Panthers came right back to take a 2-0 lead in the second. McCann smacked a double to left center to open the inning, Guertin worked a two-out walk and a Raiders' error allowed both runners to score.
- PSU tacked on three more runs in the third. Senior Rachyl Parslow (Temple, N.H.) reached on a two-base error to start the frame and moved to third on a wild pitch. Bessette knocked her in with an RBI ground out. With two down, McCann roped another double and, after a walk, Wells drove them both in with a two-bagger to make it 5-0.
- Rivier stormed back with a five-run fourth inning to tie the game at 5-5.
- Plymouth State took advantage of some sloppy defense to answer right back in the fifth. Bessette started the rally with a base hit. With two away, an error allowed two runs to score and Guertin, sophomore Caroline Macri (Burlington, Mass.) and senior Abigale McGee (Bozeman, Mont.) all had RBI hits to restore the lead, 10-5.
- PSU continued to add on in the sixth. Bessette doubled to open the frame, but the next two batters made outs. Freshman Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.) knocked an RBI single and moved to second on the throw and Wells followed with a run-scoring hit before Guertin's triple made it 13-5.
- The Raiders loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning, but McGrath limited the damage to just one run on a sacrifice fly.
- Rivier attempted to rally one last time in the bottom of the seventh with back-to-back one-out singles, but the PSU defense turned a line drive into a game-ending double play to seal the victory.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- McGrath allowed just one run on three hits over the final 3.1 innings to pick up the win in relief and improve to 4-2 on the season.
- Plymouth State banged out 12 hits, including six for extra bases.
- Bessette had her fifth multi-hit game of the year, tied for the team lead, and her second three-hit game of the season, most on the team. She finished 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.
- McCann went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and scored three runs, while Wells (single, double) and Guertin (single, triple) combined to score four runs and drive in five.
- The Panthers' 13 runs were a season high.
- The teams have played just twice before with PSU taking a game in Florida last spring and the Raiders winning in Plymouth during the 2012 ECAC New England Tournament.
Up Next:
- The Panthers open their home slate on Tuesday (Apr. 11) when Keene State heads to D&M Park for an LEC twin bill. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.
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