FITCHBURG, Mass. – Freshman
Kiera Larson (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) drove in three runs and senior
Alyssa Wilson (Bradford, Mass.) allowed just three hits in a complete game win to help Plymouth State University sweep a non-conference softball double header over Fitchburg State University at Coolidge Park on Thursday.
Larson ripped RBI singles in the third, fifth and seventh innings and Wilson surrendered just three hits as the Panthers took the opener by a 3-1 margin.
Four Panthers had two-hit games in the nightcap to back an outstanding start from sophomore
Celeste Fuccillo (Everett, Mass.) Fuccillo allowed just one unearned run over five strong innings to pick up her first collegiate win.
Plymouth State has won five-of-six to improve to 13-17, while the Falcons drop to 11-19.
The Basics:
- GAME ONE: Plymouth State 3, Fitchburg State 1
- GAME TWO: Plymouth State 10, Fitchburg State 1 (6 Inn.)
- Plymouth State (13-17)
- Fitchburg State (11-19)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Sophomore Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.) singled and an error put two runners on in the second, but Fitchburg State got out of the inning.
- Wilson struck out the side in the bottom of the frame to escape a bases-loaded jam.
- Freshman Cayleigh Adams (Hampton, N.H.) ripped a one-out double and sophomore Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) drew a two-out walk before Larson drove in a run with her single to right for a 1-0 lead in the third.
- Freshmen Lauren Laudani (Londonderry, N.H.) and Kennedy Michaud (Auburn, N.H.) singled in the fourth and an error allowed the runners to move into scoring position, but again the Falcons were able to wriggle out of trouble.
- Freshman Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) singled to start the fifth. A sacrifice bunt moved her to second and Larson's single down the right field line extended the lead to 2-0.
- Fitchburg State came back with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning to pull within 2-1.
- Adams singled and stole second in the seventh. Couch followed with a base hit, but Adams was cut down at the plate. Larson came up big again, though, driving in her third run of the game with a single to center for a 3-1 lead.
- Wilson got two quick outs in the bottom of the inning. A walk brought the tying run to the plate, but she induced a flyout to center to close out the win.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Wilson allowed just three hits in the complete game win. She struck out a season-high eight batters.
- Larson finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
- Adams and Couch had two hits apiece. Couch scored twice, while Adams scored once.
- Plymouth State had ten hits in the game.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Sophomore Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) singled and stole second with one down in the top of the first and junior Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) made it 1-0 with an RBI double.
- The Panthers used a two-out rally to add to the lead in the second. Junior Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) drew a two-out walk and stole second and freshman Samantha Durrenberger (Antioch, Calif.) singled and stole a base to put two runners in scoring position. Adams came through with a two-run single inside the left field line to make it 3-0.
- Fitchburg State put two runners on in the third, but Fuccillo got a line out and ground ball to strand the runners.
- The Panthers loaded the bases on an infield hit, walk, and bunt single in the fourth. Fitchburg State got an out at the plate on a fielder's choice, but Adams drew a walk to force in a run to push the lead to 4-0.
- The hosts got an unearned run in the bottom of the inning, but PSU answered right back in the fifth. Nezuch and Laudani singled and were bunted over and Nezuch raced home on Michaud's ground out for a 5-1 advantage.
- The Panthers put the game out of reach in the sixth. Durrenberger singled and Adams reached on an error before Durrenberger crossed the plate on a double steal. E. Bessette followed with a base hit and later in the inning Nezuch made it 7-1 with a run-scoring single. Laudani followed with a two-run double, and an error made it a 10-1 game.
- The hosts smacked a double to start the bottom of the inning, but Laudani stranded the runner to wrap up the win.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Fuccillo scattered six hits and didn't walk a batter in her five innings. She allowed just one unearned run.
- E. Bessette and Nezuch both went 2-for-4 with two runs scored.
- Laudani also had two hits in four at bats, scoring once and driving in two, while Durrenberger was 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
- The Panthers stole eight bases without being caught.
- The teams had split each of the last four meetings. PSU holds a 35-14-1 advantage in the all-time series.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State celebrates Senior Day with a Little East Conference double header against Eastern Connecticut State on Saturday (Apr. 27). Game one is set for 1:00 p.m., with Senior Day ceremonies taking place between games.
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