WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – In a wild, back-and-forth game, fourth-seeded University of Massachusetts Boston edged third-seeded Plymouth State University, 8-6, to force a winner-takes-all championship game in the Little East Conference (LEC) Softball Tournament at Clyde Washburne Field on Saturday night.
With Plymouth State coming through the winner's bracket of the double-elimination tournament, the Panthers will have one more opportunity to claim the program's first LEC Tournament title when the two teams meet Sunday (May 11) at 10:00 a.m.
The Beacons jumped ahead with two runs in the top of the first, but PSU answered with three in the bottom half, highlighted by a two-run blast off the bat of junior
Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.). UMass Boston responded with four runs in the third to reclaim the lead, though Plymouth State pulled even by plating three in the fourth.
The Panthers threatened again in the fifth, putting two runners in scoring, but came up empty. UMass Boston capitalized with two clutch, two-out runs in the sixth to go back in front.
Senior
Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) singled with one out in the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate, but the Beacons recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the game.
Plymouth State slips to 28-15, while the Beacons improve to 31-11-1.
The Basics:
- Game 10: Plymouth State 6, UMass Boston 8
- Plymouth State (28-15)
- UMass Boston (31-11-1)
How it Happened:
- UMass Boston plated two runs in the top of the first to grab an early lead.
- Junior Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) reached on an error in the bottom half, stole second, and scored on Ly's double. Nezuch followed with a two-run homer to left, putting PSU up 3-2.
- The Beacons responded with a four-run third to retake control.
- PSU threatened with back-to-back walks in the bottom of the inning but couldn't cash in.
- Senior Jade Guertin (Oakland, R.I.) reached on an error, and classmate Caroline Macri (Burlington, Mass.) doubled to the wall to open the fourth. A walk loaded the bases, and pinch hitter Keelie Wells (Milford, N.H.) drove in a run as Guertin beat a throw home on a tapper up the first base line. Junior Emily Antrim (Limerick, Maine) and Bessette followed with RBI groundouts to tie it at 6-6.
- The Panthers had a two-out scoring chance in the fifth with runners on second and third, but a flyout ended the threat.
- UMass Boston regained the lead with two runs in the sixth.
- Ly ripped a one-out single in the seventh to bring the tying run to the plate, but the Beacons sealed the win with back-to-back strikeouts.
By the Numbers:
- Macri finished 3-for-3 with a double and a stolen base.
- Ly reached base four times, collecting a double, a single, and two walks. She scored once and drove in a run.
- Nezuch went 1-for-4 with her first homer of the season – a two-run shot.
- Plymouth State is making its third appearance in the LEC championship game – all three matchups coming against UMass Boston.
Up Next:
- The two teams will square off again on Sunday (May 11) at 10:00 a.m. for the LEC Tournament crown and the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament.
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