CASTLETON, Vt. – Senior
Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) homered, and junior
Emily Antrim (Limerick, Maine) threw five innings of one-run ball as Plymouth State University rallied with a three-run sixth inning to split a Little East Conference (LEC) softball doubleheader against Vermont State University Castleton at Spartan Fields on Tuesday evening.
Ly's homer broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning of game two, but the Spartans pulled even with a run in the fifth. Junior
Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) doubled to start the sixth, then scored the go-ahead run when Ly reached on an error. Senior
Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) added an RBI groundout and another Spartans' miscue extended the lead to 4-1. Senior
Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) handled the final two innings, working out of a jam in the seventh to secure the win.
McGrath suffered the loss in game one despite allowing just one earned run and three hits over six innings. Castleton plated a pair of unearned runs in the first to jump out to a 3-0 lead. Junior
Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) singled, stole a base, and scored on a Castleton error to make it 3-1 in the third, and neither team would score the rest of the way. The Panthers put the leadoff runner on in both the fifth and sixth innings and had a two-out baserunner in the seventh, but all three were left stranded in a 3-1 setback.
Plymouth State moves to 21-14 (7-7 LEC), while the Spartans are 17-13 (6-8 LEC).
The Basics:
- Game 1: Plymouth State 1, VTSU Castleton 3
- Game 2: Plymouth State 4, VTSU Castleton 2
- Plymouth State (21-14, 7-7 LEC)
- VTSU Castleton (17-13, 6-8 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- The Spartans got out to a quick start with three runs in the bottom of the first.
- K. Bessette reached with a two-out bunt single in the third. She stole second and came around to score on a Castleton error to make it 3-1.
- Montelongo reached on an error to open the fifth, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, but was stranded.
- E. Bessette singled to start the sixth and advanced to second on a groundout, but PSU couldn't drive her in.
- Senior Caroline Macri (Burlington, Mass.) singled in the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate, but Castleton induced a groundout to hold on for the win.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- K. Bessette went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base.
- E. Bessette, Macri, and sophomore Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas), each finished 1-for-3.
- McGrath struck out three, allowing just one earned run in six innings but took the tough-luck loss.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Antrim worked out of trouble in the first, and the game remained scoreless into the fourth.
- Ly blasted a solo shot to left with two down in the fourth to open the scoring.
- Montelongo singled, advanced on a groundout, and stole third in the fifth. Sophomore Kennedy Michaud (Auburn, N.H.) walked, and pinch runner Ashley Trogler (Rochester, N.H.) stole second to put two runners in scoring position, but a strikeout ended the threat.
- Castleton tied the game in the bottom half and loaded the bases with two down, but Antrim induced a groundout to escape the jam.
- E. Bessette doubled to start the sixth and moved to third on a ground ball. Ly reached on an error to drive in the go-ahead run, and senior Jade Guertin (Oakland, R.I.) singled. A walk loaded the bases, and Montelongo's RBI groundout made it 3-1. Another Spartans' error allowed Guertin to score for a 4-1 lead.
- McGrath came on in relief with a clean sixth. Castleton rallied in the seventh, using three straight hits to make it 4-2 with the tying runs on base, but McGrath induced a pair of ground balls to lock down the win.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Ly homered in four at-bats, drove in two, and scored twice.
- E. Bessette went 1-for-3 with a double, a walk, and a run scored.
- Guertin finished 1-for-3 and with a run.
- Junior Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.) drew a pair of walks.
- Montelongo (1-for-3, one RBI) and K. Bessette (1-for-4) also tallied base hits.
- Antrim scattered six hits and allowed just one run over five innings.
- McGrath earned her third save in her last five appearances.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State visits the University of New England for a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday (May 1). Game one is set for a 3:00 p.m. start.
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