CLERMONT, Fla. – Sophomore
Kennedy Michaud (Auburn, N.H.) launched a solo home run in the top of the seventh inning, and Plymouth State University put the go-ahead run on base, but Blackburn College escaped the jam to edge the Panthers, 2-1, in PSU's first of two games at Hancock Park during
THE Spring Games on Thursday.
Senior
Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) improved to 4-1 in the circle, while junior
Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) went 3-for-3 with a double and two runs scored as the Panthers bounced back to defeat Springfield College, 8-4, in game two.
Plymouth State consistently put pressure on the Beavers in the opener but couldn't break through. Blackburn took a 1-0 lead on a solo homer in the fourth and added a crucial insurance run in the sixth with a two-out RBI single. Michaud crushed her first career home run in the seventh to cut the deficit in half. Junior
Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) followed with a two-out double, and sophomore
Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) worked a walk to put the go-ahead run on base, but Blackburn secured the win with a strikeout.
In game two, PSU jumped out to a 3-0 lead through two innings, but Springfield rallied to tie it in the fourth. The Panthers responded immediately, plating three runs in the bottom of the frame. K. Bessette doubled in a run, followed by a run-scoring triple from junior
Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.). McGrath took control from there, allowing just an unearned run in the seventh to lock down her fourth win of the season.
Plymouth State moves to 7-3. Blackburn goes to 2-8, while Springfield is 7-5.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, Blackburn 2
- Plymouth State 8, Springfield 4
- Plymouth State (7-3)
- Blackburn (2-8)
- Springfield (7-5)
How it Happened (Blackburn):
- Plymouth State put its first two runners on in the second after senior Jade Guertin (Oakland, R.I.) singled and junior Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.) reached on an error, but the Beavers got a double play and fly ball to end the threat.
- Junior Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) singled and stole second with one down in the third but was stranded.
- Guertin poked a one-out single to center in the fourth but was erased on a fielder's choice. An error and walk loaded the bases with two down, and Michaud hit the ball on the screws, but the Blackburn shortstop snared the liner to end the frame.
- The Beavers got a leadoff homer in the bottom of the inning to take a 1-0 lead.
- K. Bessette doubled to start the fifth, but PSU was unable to capitalize.
- Junior Emily Antrim (Limerick, Maine) worked out of a jam in the bottom half as a double and hit batter put two on with no outs, but the PSU defense turned a line drive into a double play as Antrim kept the deficit at one.
- The Beavers scratched an important insurance run in the sixth with a two-out, RBI single to make it 2-0.
- Michaud blasted a solo homer to center with one out in the seventh. With two down, E. Bessette doubled and Couch worked a walk to put the go-ahead run on base, but a strikeout ended the Panthers' rally.
By the Numbers (Blackburn):
- K. Bessette went 2-for-4 with a single and a double.
- E. Bessette reached twice with a double and a walk.
- Guertin recorded a pair of singles, finishing 2-for-3.
- Michaud's home run was the first of her collegiate career.
- Antrim threw 78 pitches, allowing two runs on eight hits with three strikeouts.
- The Panthers played error-free defense.
How it Happened (Springfield):
- Senior Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) got out of a jam in the top of the first as the Pride had runners on second and third with none out. She got a huge strikeout, then induced an infield popup before a lineout ended the threat.
- Plymouth State used the momentum to grab a 2-0 lead. K. Bessette singled and stole second and E. Bessette walked. Both runners advanced on a ground out and Guertin ripped a two-run single up the middle.
- Junior Keelie Wells (Milford, N.H.) singled and was bunted to second. She took third on a ground out and K. Bessette pulled a single to right to extend the lead to 3-0.
- Springfield rallied with two runs in the third and pulled even with a run in the fourth.
- PSU answered right back in the bottom of the inning. Senior Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) walked and moved to third on a bunt and wild pitch. K. Bessette followed with an RBI double, and E. Bessette tripled to make it 5-3. E. Bessette beat the throw home on Couch's fielder's choice to extend the margin to 6-3.
- Sophomore Kiera Larson (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) drove in another run in the fifth to make it 7-3.
- The Pride added an unearned run in the seventh to account for the final score.
By the Numbers (Springfield):
- McGrath (4-1) tossed a complete game, allowing three earned runs and striking out three.
- K. Bessette went 3-for-3 with a double, two runs scored, and two RBIs. She also walked to reach base four times.
- E. Bessette tripled, walked, scored twice, and drove in a run.
- Guertin finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
- Michaud reached base three times, going 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI , and a run scored.
- Montelongo reached twice with a single and a walk.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State wraps up its Florida trip with three games on Friday (Mar. 21). The Panthers face SUNY Cortland at 10:00 a.m., Ripon College at 12:15 p.m., and Knox College at 2:30 p.m.
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