CLERMONT, Fla. – Junior
Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) singled home the go-ahead run in the top of the sixth, and senior
Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) allowed just one earned run in a complete game victory as the Plymouth State University softball team matched its best start since the 2003 season with a 5-4, come-from-behind win over Amherst College at
THE Spring Games on Tuesday. The Panthers fell in their second game of the day, dropping a 6-0 decision to #16 Wisconsin-Stevens Point in six innings.
Against the Mammoths, sophomore
Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) continued her hot start with an RBI double in the first, and PSU added two runs in the third for a 3-0 lead. Amherst rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the frame, then pulled ahead, 4-3, in the fifth. PSU answered immediately, as pinch runner
Samantha Durrenberger (Antioch, Calif.) scored on a throwing error in the sixth to even the score. Four batters later, Bessette drove in the go-ahead run with a single. McGrath escaped a two-on, one-out jam in the seventh to close out the complete game win, allowing just one earned run.
Facing its toughest competition of the season to date, PSU's offense was stifled by the #16 Pointers, managing just six base runners. UWSP took a 5-0 lead after two innings and added three more runs in the sixth to seal the win. Junior
Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) logged a single and a walk and was the only Panther to reach base twice.
Plymouth State's 6-1 start was its best since 2003, when the team opened the season 14-1. Following the setback to the Pointers, PSU stands at 6-2. Amherst falls to 4-2, while Wisconsin-Stevens Point, ranked #16 in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll, improves to 14-2.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 5, Amherst 4
- Plymouth State 0, #16 UWSP 8 (6 Inn.)
- Plymouth State (6-2)
- Amherst (4-2)
- UWSP (14-2)
How it Happened (Amherst):
- PSU used back-to-back, two-out doubles to strike first. Senior Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) roped a two-bagger to left center, and Couch followed with a shot to right for a 1-0 lead.
- The Panthers tacked on two more in the third. E. Bessette was hit by a pitch, Ly walked, and Couch singled to load the bases with one out. Senior Jade Guertin (Oakland, R.I.) drew a walk to force in a run, and classmate Caroline Macri (Burlington, Mass.) lifted a sacrifice fly to center to make it 3-0.
- Amherst took advantage of two errors to pull even in the bottom of the inning.
- The Mammoths moved ahead in the fifth with consecutive doubles, but McGrath induced a fly ball and groundout to limit the damage.
- The PSU offense responded immediately. Junior Keelie Wells (Milford, N.H.) reached on an error, and Durrenberger, who came in to run, moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring the tying run on a throwing error. With two away, senior Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine), and the Bessette sisters strung together three straight singles to regain the lead, 5-4.
- In the bottom of the seventh, the Mammoths got a pair of singles around a fly out to put the winning run on base, but McGrath secured the victory with an infield pop-up and a fly ball to right.
By the Numbers (Amherst):
- K. Bessette went 2-for-4, while Couch doubled, singled, and drove in a run.
- Montelongo singled twice and scored once.
- Ly (double, walk) and E. Bessette (single, HBP) reached base twice.
- McGrath threw a complete game, allowing just one earned run while striking out five.
How it Happened (UWSP):
- The Pointers struck first with a two-out, two-run triple in the opening frame.
- K. Bessette drew a leadoff walk in the bottom of the inning and stole second, but the Pointers' starter struck out the next three batters.
- UWSP added three runs in the second to extend the lead to 5-0.
- PSU threatened in the second with two runners aboard after an error and a walk, but the Pointers escaped the jam.
- K. Bessette's bunt single and a walk to Ly gave PSU another scoring chance in the third, but a ground ball and strikeout ended the threat.
- UWSP closed out the win with a three-run sixth.
- Couch singled up the middle in the bottom of the frame, and a hit batter gave PSU another scoring chance, but once again UWSP escaped further trouble.
By the Numbers (USWP):
- K. Bessette singled and walked.
- Couch had the Panthers' other base hit.
- Ly and Montelongo both drew walks, while freshman Eva Zuber (Lakeville, Mass.) reached on a hit by pitch.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State will enjoy an off day on Wednesday (Mar. 19), before returning to play with games against Blackburn College and Springfield College on Thursday (Mar. 20).
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