CLERMONT, Fla. – Sophomore
Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) homered for the third straight game, and the Plymouth State University softball team rallied from a 6-0 deficit to secure two more wins at
THE Spring Games on Monday. The Panthers topped Trinity College 9-1 in five innings and walked off Wellesley College 11-10, improving to 5-1 to match the team's best start in 16 years.
Plymouth State jumped ahead early against the Bantams, scoring twice in the top of the first. Trinity answered with a run in the bottom half, but PSU erupted for six runs in the second, highlighted by a three-run blast from Couch. The lead was more than enough for junior
Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.), who struck out five en route to a complete game victory.
In their second game of the day, Wellesley stormed out to a 6-0, but the relentless Panthers clawed their way back. PSU got one run in the bottom of the first and exploded for four in the second, with run-scoring hits from senior
Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) and Couch, trimming the deficit to 7-5. After closing the gap to 9-8, Wellesley tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh for a 10-8 lead. Senior
Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) doubled in a run, and freshman
Marin Agbay (Shrewsbury, Mass.) tied the game with her first career hit – a clutch one-out double. Following a walk, senior
Caroline Macri (Burlington, Mass.) sealed the comeback with a game-winning single to right.
Plymouth State's 5-1 start is its best since 2009, when the team also won five of its first six games. Trinity falls to 1-1, while Wellesley drops to 0-2.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 9, Trinity 1 (5 Inn.)
- Plymouth State 11, Wellesley 10
- Plymouth State (5-1)
- Trinity (1-1)
- Wellesley (0-2)
How it Happened (Trinity):
- K. Bessette singled, and back-to-back walks loaded the bases in the first. Couch followed with a sacrifice fly that the centerfielder dropped, allowing a second run to score for a quick 2-0 PSU lead.
- Trinity got a run back in the bottom half to make it 2-1.
- PSU exploded for four runs in the second, capitalizing on a hit-by-pitch, walk, and a sacrifice to put two runners in scoring position. K. Bessette ripped a double to left, and a fielding miscue allowed two runners to score. Junior Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) laid down a bunt single to drive in another run before Ly singled. Couch then crushed her third home run in as many games, pushing the lead to 8-1.
- Nezuch worked around a pair of singles in the second and retired the side in order in the third, fanning two in the frame.
- Nezuch helped her own cause with a sacrifice fly in the fourth, scoring E. Bessette. She then set down six of the next seven hitters to secure the five-inning win.
By the Numbers (Trinity):
- Couch went 2-for-2 with a homer, double, four RBIs, and a run scored. After not homering last season, she has now gone deep in three of six games.
- K. Bessette doubled and singled in three at bats, driving in one, scoring twice, and adding a stolen base.
- E. Bessette reached base three times (single, two walks), scoring three runs and driving in one.
- Ly and junior Keelie Wells (Milford, N.H.) both singled, walked, and scored a run in two official at bats.
- Nezuch allowed just four singles and one run in her five innings, striking out five.
How it Happened (Wellesley):
- Wellesley jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the first.
- K. Bessette doubled to start the bottom half, and E. Bessette followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 6-1.
- The Blue added a run in the second, but PSU answered in a big way. Senior Jade Guertin (Oakland, R.I.) and sophomore Kiera Larson (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) singled around a walk to load the bases. Montelongo followed with an RBI single, and a Wellesley error allowed two more runs to score. Couch capped the inning with a run-scoring single to make it 7-5.
- The teams traded runs in the third, with Larson doubling home Guertin to keep PSU within two at 8-6.
- Wellesley added a run in the fifth.
- PSU chipped away in the sixth as Ly and Couch singled. Nezuch drove in a run with a fielder's choice, and Guertin followed with an RBI single to pull within 9-8. The Panthers loaded the bases but stranded the tying run at third.
- Wellesley tacked on an insurance run in the seventh to push the lead to 10-8.
- E. Bessette reached on an error to start the bottom half, and Ly's double cut the deficit to 10-9. Couch reached on a fielder's choice for the first out, but Agbay's first collegiate hit – a clutch one-out double – tied the game. Guertin worked a walk, and both runners advanced on a passed ball before Macri walked it off with a single to right center.
By the Numbers (Wellesley):
- Macri went 3-for-4 with a walk, a run scored, and the game-winning RBI.
- Guertin reached base three times (walk, two singles) and scored twice. Ly (double, single, walk) and Couch (two singles) also had multi-hit games. Couch scored twice.
- Nine different Panthers drove in runs.
- Senior Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) quieted the Wellesley bats, allowing just one run over the final three innings to pick up the win (2-1) in relief.
- Plymouth State's 15 hits were its most since March 2023.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State faces stiff competition on Tuesday (Mar. 18) with games against Amherst College and #19 Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
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