KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Plymouth State University plated three runs in the top of the first and held on to top Ursinus College, 4-1, in the Panthers' season opener at THE Spring Games on Friday evening.
After getting a run thanks to a Bears' error, junior
Jade Guertin (Oakland, R.I.) ripped a two-run double to extend the margin and PSU never looked back.
Junior
Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) and sophomore
Emily Antrim (Limerick, Maine) teamed up to strike out seven while allowing just the one run.
Plymouth State starts the year off at 1-0, while Ursinus moves to 5-7.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, Ursinus 1
- Plymouth State (1-0)
- Ursinus (5-7)
How it Happened:
- Sophomore Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) and freshman Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) had back-to-back singles to open the game. After a pop out, sophomore Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.) reached on an error as Bessette crossed the plate for a 1-0 lead. Guertin followed with a two-run double to extend the lead.
- McGrath allowed just a pair of singles through the first three innings as PSU maintained the lead.
- Sophomore Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) knocked a one-out single in the fourth and was bunted over to second but got caught in a run down to end the inning.
- Ursinus put a pair of runners on with one down in the bottom of the inning, but Antrim came on and recorded back-to-back strikeouts to erase the threat.
- K. Bessette went to second on a two-base error to start the fifth and she moved to third on Couch's groundout. Junior Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) drove her in to push the lead to 4-0.
- The Bears got a run back in the bottom of the frame and threatened for more, but E. Bessette cut down a runner at home during a double steal attempt and Antrim got a ground ball to end the inning with a 4-1 lead intact.
- Ursinus loaded the bases with three straight two-out singles in the sixth, but Antrim induced a lineout to preserve the lead.
- Plymouth State had a pair of runners on and looked to add an insurance run in the top of the seventh, but consecutive pop outs kept the score at 4-1.
- Antrim worked around a leadoff single in the bottom of the frame to close out the win.
By the Numbers:
- Plymouth State was limited to four singles and Guertin's double.
- K. Bessette scored a pair of runs, while junior Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) worked the team's lone walk.
- McGrath worked the first 3.1 innings, striking out three and allowing just three singles.
- Antrim picked up the win after going the final 3.2 with four strikeouts. The Bears threatened with seven hits, but Antrim worked out of trouble to earn the victory.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State squares off against North Central and Dominican tomorrow with games at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.
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