REVERE, Mass. – Sophomore
Lauren Laudani (Londonderry, N.H.) and freshman
Mackenzie Griswold (Bath, N.H.) delivered a pair of commanding complete-game performances to lead Plymouth State University to a sweep of Lesley University in a non-conference softball doubleheader at Ardagna Field at Griswold Park on Saturday.
Laudani was lights out in the opener, allowing just one hit to earn her first win of the season. Plymouth State scored in every inning, starting with a run in the first courtesy of junior
Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.). That early lead proved more than enough, but the Panthers continued to pile on. Senior
Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) launched a solo homer in the third to push the lead to 5-0, and PSU added two runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to seal a 9-0, five-inning win.
Griswold matched that dominance in game two. After back-to-back walks to start the game, she retired nine straight batters. A leadoff double in the fourth broke up the streak, but she quickly shut the door on the threat. Sophomore
Kennedy Michaud (Auburn, N.H.) drove in a first-inning run, and PSU tacked on runs in the second, third, and sixth innings. Michaud capped the day with a two-run double in the seventh to help secure a 7-1 victory.
Plymouth State improves to 13-6 on the year, while the Lynx fall to 2-12.
The Basics:
- Game 1: Plymouth State 9, Lesley 0 (5 Inn.)
- Game 2: Plymouth State 7, Lesley 1
- Plymouth State (13-6)
- Lesley (2-12)
How it Happened (Game One):
- K. Bessette manufactured a run in the top of the first, poking a leadoff single up the middle before stealing second and third and scoring on a wild pitch.
- PSU added three more in the second behind a walk, a single from junior Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.), and RBI hits from K. Bessette and junior Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) to make it 4-0.
- Ly blasted a solo homer to straightaway center in the third.
- Sophomore Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) added an RBI single to right in the fourth. The ball got past the right fielder, allowing Couch to come all the way home to make it 7-0.
- In the fifth, Nezuch singled, senior Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) singled, and freshman Lilly Vetelino (Westerly, R.I.) and E. Bessette drove in the final runs.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Laudani tossed a complete game one-hitter with just two walks. She struck out four.
- K. Bessette went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and two RBIs.
- E. Bessette singled twice and drove in two.
- Couch, Nezuch and Montelongo also had multi-hit games.
- Ly went 2-for-3 with a homer.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Freshman Emily Estes (York, Maine) singled to start the game, then scored on Michaud's RBI single for an early 1-0 lead.
- Estes drove in another with a groundout in the second, and Vetelino followed with an RBI single to make it 3-0.
- In the third, junior Keelie Wells (Milford, N.H.) doubled home freshman Eva Zuber (Lakeville, Mass.) to stretch the lead to 4-0.
- Lesley's only serious chance came in the sixth after a walk and double, scoring a run on a PSU error. Griswold limited the damage with a flyout and double play.
- Michaud sealed the win with a two-run double in the seventh.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Griswold struck out six and allowed just three hits in the complete game win.
- Michaud singled and doubled while driving in three.
- Vetelino reached base three times (single, two walks) and drove in a run.
- Zuber scored twice.
- The Panthers' defense turned two double plays.
- PSU is 6-0 in the head-to-head matchup.
Up Next:
- The Panthers visit Rivier on Thursday (Apr. 10) for a pair of games. First pitch for the opener is set for 4:00 p.m.
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