PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) allowed just one run, and sophomore
Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) blasted her league-leading fifth home run of the season as the Plymouth State University softball team split a Little East Conference (LEC) doubleheader with the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in its home opener at D&M Park on Monday afternoon.
UMass Dartmouth had base runners in six innings in game one, but McGrath was a bulldog in the circle, putting up a string of zeros. Couch launched a solo shot in the bottom of the first to give PSU an early lead, and the Panthers manufactured a run in the fourth to make it 2-0. The Corsairs got one back in their last at bat, but McGrath retired the final three batters to secure a 2-1 win.
Plymouth State took a 2-0 lead in game two on Couch's sacrifice fly and an RBI groundout, but UMD responded with a five-run fourth inning, then tacked on four more in the late innings. The Panthers loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh, but UMass Dartmouth worked out of the jam, allowing just one run to earn the split with a 9-3 victory.
Plymouth State moves to 14-7 (2-2 LEC), while the Corsairs go to 13-11 (1-5 LEC).
The Basics:
- Game 1: Plymouth State 2, UMass Dartmouth 1
- Game 2: Plymouth State 3, UMass Dartmouth 9
- Plymouth State (14-7, 2-2 LEC)
- UMass Dartmouth (13-11, 1-5 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Couch crushed her fifth home run of the season well over the left field fence with two outs in the bottom of the first to give PSU a 1-0 lead.
- Senior Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) singled to start the third and moved up on a sacrifice, but was left stranded.
- UMass Dartmouth put runners on the corners in the fourth, but McGrath induced a grounder to end the threat.
- PSU doubled its lead in the bottom half. Senior Jade Guertin (Oakland, R.I.) reached on an error, and junior Keelie Wells (Milford, N.H.) singled to put runners on the corners. Senior Caroline Macri (Burlington, Mass.) made it 2-0 with an RBI groundout.
- The Corsairs threatened in the sixth with back-to-back two-out singles, but McGrath escaped with another groundout.
- UMD got a leadoff single in the seventh and advanced to second when the ball got past the outfielder, but McGrath limited the damage – inducing two grounders and striking out a pinch hitter looking to end the game.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- McGrath scattered seven hits, all singles, allowing just one run with three strikeouts and no walks to improve to 6-3.
- Wells had a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3.
- Couch's five home runs are the most for a Panther since Abrie Davis hit seven in 2015.
- Neither pitcher issued a walk.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Plymouth State manufactured a run in the first. Junior Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) drew a leadoff walk, stole second, moved to third on a grounder, and scored on Couch's sacrifice fly.
- The Panthers added another in the third. Montelongo walked, stole second, advanced on a flyout, and scored on an RBI groundout by junior Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) to go up 2-0.
- UMD responded with five runs on five singles and a two-out double in the fourth to take a 5-2 lead.
- The Corsairs added one in the sixth and three more in the seventh.
- PSU attempted a rally in its final at bat, loading the bases on an error, single by sophomore Kennedy Michaud (Auburn, N.H.), and Montelongo's walk. UMD limited the damage to one run before E. Bessette's line drive was snared by the second baseman to end the game.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Freshman Marin Agbay (Shrewsbury, Mass.) singled in two at bats, while Michaud added a pinch hit single.
- Montelongo walked twice and scored a run.
- K. Bessette walked, scored, and drove in a run.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State heads to Rhode Island College for a pair of league games on Tuesday (Apr. 15).
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