KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Junior
Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) tossed a three-hit shutout to lead Plymouth State University to a 4-0 win over Albertus Magnus College in the first of three games for the Panthers at THE Spring Games on Thursday.
McGrath gave up a leadoff single in the first before retiring the next 12 Falcons in order. She ran into trouble only once as Albertus Magnus used a walk and single to put the first two on in the fifth, but McGrath came up big with a strikeout and pair of ground balls, then coasted the rest of the way.
The Panthers scored four in the fourth to take a 7-6 lead over Arcadia University in the middle game of the day, with freshman
Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) driving in five runs through the first four innings. The Knights came right back with a three-run fifth, though, and the visitors continued to tack on late in a 14-7 win over the Panthers.
Sophomore
Emily Antrim (Limerick, Maine) was solid in the circle in the final game of the day, a 3-0 setback to #8 Bethel University. The Royals' starter was dominant, though, allowing just one hit and striking out 15 in the complete game.
Plymouth State ends the day at 5-7, Albertus Magnus moves to 3-4 and Bethel improves to 11-3.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, Albertus Magnus 0
- Plymouth State 7, Arcadia 14
- Plymouth State 0, #8 Bethel 3
- Plymouth State (5-7)
- Albertus Magnus (3-4)
- #8 Bethel (11-3)
How it Happened (Albertus Magnus):
- PSU loaded the bases with two down in the first on a pair of singles and walk, but a fly out ended the threat.
- The Falcons stroked a leadoff single in the bottom of the frame, with the runner swiping second, but McGrath struck out the next three batters.
- The Panthers threatened again in the second, putting two runners in scoring position with two outs, but once again the Falcons wiggled out of trouble.
- Meanwhile, McGrath was in the groove, mowing down the Albertus Magnus batters one after another.
- PSU broke through in the fourth. Junior Jade Guertin (Oakland, R.I.) roped a leadoff double and sophomore Keelie Wells (Milford, N.H.) singled and stole second. Senior Abby Kenison (Boscawen, N.H.) and junior Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) came up with run-scoring singles to make it 2-0.
- The Falcons only true scoring opportunity came in the fifth when they started the inning with a walk and single, but McGrath buckled down to get a big strikeout before inducing a pair of ground balls to get out of the jam.
- Montelongo ripped an RBI double and junior Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) drove her in with a base hit to double the lead, 4-0, in the sixth.
- The runs were more than enough for McGrath, who allowed just a single and walk the rest of the way to pick up the win.
By the Numbers (Albertus Magnus):
- McGrath allowed three singles and two walks in her complete game shutout. She struck out seven.
- Montelongo singled, doubled, drove in two runs and scored one of her own.
- Ly and sophomore Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.) both singled twice.
- Sophomore Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) worked a pair of walks.
How it Happened (Arcadia):
- Arcadia used three hits and pair of PSU miscues to grab a 4-0 lead in the second.
- Plymouth State came right back to plate three runs in the bottom of the frame. Freshmen Kaya Kaplan (Kinnelon, N.J.) and Samantha Durrenberger (Antioch, Calif.) singled and sophomore Ashley Trogler (Rochester, N.H.) walked to load the bases with one out. After a flyout, Couch came through with a clutch, bases-clearing double to make it 4-3.
- The Knights responded with a pair of runs in the third.
- Durrenberger and Trogler set the table again in the fourth with a single and walk, and freshman Cayleigh Adams (Hampton, N.H.) followed with a base on balls to load the bases. Couch came through again, driving in a pair with a single, and base hits from freshmen Lauren Laudani (Londonderry, N.H.) and Kennedy Michaud (Auburn, N.H.) put the Panthers ahead, 7-6.
- Arcadia came back once again, pushing three runs across to go back in front, 10-7.
- Plymouth State loaded the bases in the fifth but was unable to score and the Knights tacked on four runs late to secure the win.
By the Numbers (Arcadia):
- Couch finished 2-for-4 with a run and five RBIs.
- Durrenberger reached base three times with two singles and a walk and scored a pair of runs.
- Trogler and freshman Kiera Larson (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) each walked twice.
How it Happened (#8 Bethel):
- Baserunners were hard to come by as the Bethel pitcher was in control from the start.
- The Royals used a single, stolen base and sacrifice bunt to put a runner on third in the bottom of the first. Antrim got an infield popup, but a seeing-eye single up the middle plated a run as Bethel went ahead, 1-0.
- Bethel added two runs in the third. A one-out triple and walk put two runners on and the Royals' batter dropped a ball on the left field line for a two-run triple to make it 3-0.
- Nezuch reached on an error to start the fifth, but the Panthers were unable to bring her in.
- Sophomore Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) smacked a single to center and stole second with two outs in the sixth, but a strikeout ended the threat and PSU could not rally in the seventh.
By the Numbers (#8 Bethel):
- K. Bessette's single was the Panthers' lone base hit.
- Antrim had a solid outing of her own, allowing just five hits and two walks in six innings.
- Bethel leads the all-time series 5-1. The last meeting came in the 2006 season.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State wraps up its week in Florida with two final games on Friday (Mar. 15). The Panthers square off against Roger Williams at 9:00 a.m. before ending the trip against Beloit College at 1:45 p.m.
– 30 –
