WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Junior
Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) delivered a two-strike, walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth to lift third-seeded Plymouth State University to a 5-4 win over sixth-seeded University of Massachusetts Dartmouth in the Little East Conference (LEC) Softball Tournament at Clyde Washburne Field on Wednesday.
The Corsairs jumped out to an early lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first, but PSU responded in the third with a two-out rally. Run-scoring hits from Bessette and sophomore
Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) tied the game, and back-to-back UMD errors gave the Panthers a 3-2 advantage.
UMass Dartmouth regained the lead with a two-run homer in the fifth, but junior
Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) beat the throw home on Couch's grounder to short in the bottom half to knot the game at 4-4.
Senior
Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) allowed just one baserunner after the two-run homer, and the Panthers capitalized in the ninth. Senior
Caroline Macri (Burlington, Mass.) led off with a double and PSU eventually loaded the bases with one out. Behind in the count, E. Bessette drove an outside pitch to the gap in right-center to plate the winning run.
Plymouth State improves to 26-14 and advances to day two of the tournament. The Panthers will face second-seeded University of Southern Maine on Thursday (May 8) at 1:00 p.m.
UMass Dartmouth drops to 20-17 and will play in an elimination game against fifth-seeded Western Connecticut State University this evening.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 5, UMass Dartmouth 4 (9 Inn.)
- Plymouth State (26-14)
- UMass Dartmouth (20-17)
How it Happened:
- The Corsairs scored twice in the top of the first inning to take an early lead.
- PSU rallied for three two-out runs in the third. K. Bessette started it with a single, stole second, and scored on E. Bessette's RBI double. Couch followed with a run-scoring single to tie it, and consecutive UMass Dartmouth errors brought in Couch for a 3-2 advantage.
- UMass Dartmouth retook the lead with a two-run homer in the fifth, but the Panthers answered in the bottom half. K. Bessette singled, stole second, advanced to third on a groundout, and beat the throw home on Couch's grounder to short to make it 4-4. Senior Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) added a single, but a double play ended the threat.
- McGrath was dominant after the home run, surrendering only an eighth-inning single while giving the offense a chance to walk it off.
- In the ninth, Macri opened with a double. Senior Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) reached on a bunt when the defense held pinch runner Ashley Trogler (Rochester, N.H.) at second. Junior Keelie Wells (Milford, N.H.) laid down a perfect sacrifice to move both runners. A walk to K. Bessette loaded the bases before E. Bessette drove a 1-2 pitch to the right-center gap to seal the win.
By the Numbers:
- McGrath went the distance, allowing five hits and striking out three to improve to 12-6. She retired 14 of the final 15 batters after the fifth-inning home run.
- E. Bessette finished 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, a run, and two RBIs.
- Couch doubled in four at-bats, scored once, and drove in two.
- K. Bessette was 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs, and two stolen bases – extending her program-record to 34 for the season.
- Macri went 1-for-4 with a double.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State faces second-seeded Southern Maine in game five of the tournament on Thursday (May 8) at 1:00 p.m.
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