CLERMONT, Fla. – Junior
Jade Guertin (Oakland, R.I.) scampered home with the winning run in the bottom of the eighth as Plymouth State University walked-off Babson College, 5-4, in the first of two games at THE Spring Games at Hancock Park on Monday.
The Panthers held off Rutgers Newark in game two, squashing a seventh inning rally by cutting down the would-be tying run at third base before recording the final two outs for a 2-1 win.
Sophomore
Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) continued her hot start with another two hits, while classmate
Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.) went 2-for-2 with a double in the opener. Babson scored a pair of unearned runs in the top of the seventh to force extras, but Guertin started the bottom of the eighth at second and, with two outs, back-to-back walks loaded the bases before she raced home on a wild pitch to score the winning run.
Bessette had another two-hit game against Rutgers Newark and scored both PSU runs. Plymouth State carried a 2-0 lead into the final inning, but the Scarlet Raiders opened the frame with a single and an error plated a run. The tying runner was headed to third, but Bessette fired a strike to junior
Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine), who applied the tag and back-to-back popouts secured the win.
With the sweep, Plymouth State jumps to 4-3 mark. Babson moves to 3-8, while Rutgers Newark falls to 0-4.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 5, Babson 4 (8 Inn.)
- Plymouth State 2, Rutgers Newark 1
- Plymouth State (4-3)
- Babson (3-8)
- Rutgers Newark (0-4)
How it Happened (Babson):
- Bessette and freshman Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) walked to start the bottom of the first. After they were bunted over, Nezuch ripped a double that scored Bessette, but Couch was cut down at the plate, as PSU took a 1-0 lead.
- PSU doubled the lead in the second as sophomore Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) singled and came around to score on a Babson error.
- The Beavers answered back with two runs in the third to tie the game, but Guertin roped a one-out RBI double in the bottom of the frame as PSU retook the lead, 3-2.
- Nezuch opened the bottom of the fifth with a single. Pinch runner Cayleigh Adams (Hampton, N.H.) tagged up and took second on a foul pop out, then scored on another Babson miscue to push the lead to 4-2.
- Babson pushed across a pair of unearned runs in the seventh to tie the game.
- Guertin was placed on second to start the bottom of the eighth. After back-to-back strikeouts, the Panthers worked a pair of walks to load the bases and Guertin raced home on a wild pitch to win the game.
By the Numbers (Babson):
- K. Bessette reached base three times with another two hits and a walk, while Nezuch went 2-for-2 with a double.
- Junior Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) went the distance, striking out four and giving up just two earned runs to pick up the win.
- The Panthers had lost each of the last six meetings. PSU improves to 2-6 in the series, with the last win coming during the 2000 season.
How it Happened (Rutgers Newark):
- K. Bessette opened the game with a single and was bunted over. Junior Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) walked and the two advanced on a fielder's choice before K. Bessette crossed the plate on a passed ball for an early 1-0 lead.
- The Panthers threatened for more but had a runner thrown out at the plate in the second.
- K. Bessette doubled to open the third and moved around the bases on a pair of ground outs to double the lead.
- Meanwhile, sophomore Emily Antrim (Limerick, Maine) was in control in the circle, retiring the first eight batters in order. A hit batter broke up the string, but she followed with a strikeout to face only one over the minimum through three.
- Antrim didn't allow a hit until a one-out single in the fourth, but the runner was quickly erased on the basepaths.
- Rutgers Newark put the leadoff hitter on in the fifth on a PSU miscue, but Antrim retired the next three in order and she worked around an error and stolen base in the sixth to preserve the 2-0 lead into the Scarlet Raiders' final at bat.
- Rutgers got a single to open the frame and the next batter hit a smash that deflected off the shortstop and into centerfield. The lead runner crossed the plate, but K. Bessette, backing up the play, fired a strike to Montelongo at third to cut down the potential tying run and Antrim sat down the next two hitters for the complete game win.
By the Numbers (Rutgers Newark):
- K. Bessette finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Adams also had two hits.
- Ly walked twice in three plate appearances, while freshman Kiera Larson (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) and junior Caroline Macri (Burlington, Mass.) each singled.
- Antrim was spectacular, going the distance while striking out five without a walk and surrendering just two singles.
Up Next:
- PSU faces a pair of NESCAC teams on Tuesday (Mar. 12). The Panthers square off against Bowdoin at 11:15 a.m., before a 1:30 p.m. clash with Trinity.
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