BIDDEFORD, Maine – Junior
Emily Antrim (Limerick, Maine) tossed a two-hit shutout in game two to lead Plymouth State University to a sweep of the University of New England in a non-conference softball doubleheader at Nor'easter Diamond on Thursday evening.
Sophomore
Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) smashed her league-leading sixth home run during a six-run first inning in game one, and the Panthers held on to take the opener, 6-4. Sophomore
Kennedy Michaud (Auburn, N.H.) added a two-run double in the frame. Senior
Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) picked up her 10th win of the year in relief, becoming the first PSU hurler to reach double-digit wins since Caitlyn Miller won 14 games in 2019.
Antrim dominated in game two. Handed a 1-0 lead, she retired the first 10 batters she faced before a one-out single in the fourth. UNE recorded a two-out, ground-rule double in the fifth, and the Nor'easters' only other baserunner came via a walk in the seventh – though she was quickly erased on a double play. PSU tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh on a run-scoring hit by junior
Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) and a wild pitch.
Plymouth State improves to 23-14, its most wins since the 2018 team went 26-15, while UNE drops to 10-28.
The Basics:
- Game 1: Plymouth State 6, UNE 4
- Game 2: Plymouth State 3, UNE 0
- Plymouth State (23-14)
- UNE (10-28)
How it Happened (Game One):
- K. Bessette singled and stole second but was erased on a rare caught stealing at third. E. Bessette walked, and Couch followed with a blast to left field for a 2-0 lead. Senior Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) singled, and junior Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.) ripped a double to extend the lead. Senior Jade Guertin (Oakland, R.I.) was hit by a pitch with two down, and Michaud's double pushed the margin to 5-0 before sophomore Kiera Larson (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) capped the inning with a run-scoring single.
- UNE got a run back in the second.
- Guertin poked a two-out hit to right in the third but was stranded. The Nor'easters added another run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom half to pull within 6-2.
- Larson singled and stole second, and E. Bessette walked in the fourth, but a fielder's choice and foul out ended the threat.
- UNE rallied in the fourth, using three hits to score another run, but McGrath came on to strand two runners in scoring position.
- PSU put two more runners on in the fifth on Guertin's single and Michaud's walk, but the Panthers couldn't add to the lead.
- The Nor'easters cut it to 6-4 and loaded the bases with two down in the bottom half, but Guertin ran down a liner in the gap to end the inning.
- McGrath worked around a leadoff single in the seventh to secure the win.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Couch finished 1-for-4 with a two-run homer. Her six longballs are the most by a Panther since Abrie Davis smacked seven in 2015.
- Guertin singled twice and scored a run.
- Michaud doubled, walked, scored a run, and drove in two.
- E. Bessette reached base three times with a single and two walks.
- Nezuch (double, walk) and Larson (two singles) each reached twice.
- McGrath allowed just one run over the final 3.1 innings to improve to 10-6.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- K. Bessette singled, stole second, and scored on E. Bessette's double as PSU took a quick 1-0 lead in the first.
- Nezuch and Michaud opened the second inning with back-to-back hits, but the Panthers were couldn't extend the lead.
- Antrim didn't allow a baserunner until a one-out single in the fourth. She promptly retired the next two hitters.
- UNE threatened in the fifth with a two-out, ground-rule double, but Antrim induced a groundout to end the frame.
- Couch and Nezuch each had hits in the sixth, but neither was able to score.
- Larson drew a one-out walk to spark a rally in the seventh. Senior Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) reached on a bunt single, and K. Bessette's RBI single doubled the lead. A wild pitch allowed Montelongo score, extending the margin to 3-0.
- UNE drew a leadoff walk in the seventh, but Antrim induced a double play and a groundout to cap her dominant performance.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- K. Bessette went 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.
- Nezuch singled twice in three at-bats.
- E. Bessette had the team's only extra base hit – an RBI double – and also drew a walk.
- Antrim struck out four in the complete game win, allowing just two hits and a walk. She's surrendered only one earned run over her last 14 innings.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State wraps up the regular season with a key Little East Conference doubleheader against Keene State on Saturday (May 3). Game one is set for 11:00 a.m., with Senior Day ceremonies between games.
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