WILLIMANTIC, Conn. – Third-seeded Plymouth State University knocked off second-seeded University of Southern Maine and fourth-seeded University of Massachusetts Boston in a pair of Little East Conference (LEC) Softball Tournament games on Thursday to advance through the winner's bracket to the championship game.
Plymouth State will play for the title for the first time since making back-to-back trips in 2017 and 2018. The Panthers are seeking their first-ever LEC crown.
Junior
Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) reached base three times, stole three bases, and scored three runs, while senior
Kate McGrath (Boston, Mass.) allowed just two runs as the Panthers topped Southern Maine, 5-2, in their opening game. With the contest tied 2-2 in the fifth, seniors
Jade Guertin (Oakland, R.I.) and
Caroline Macri (Burlington, Mass.) delivered clutch RBI hits to give PSU the lead. Despite a rain delay of more than two hours, McGrath returned to the circle and retired the side in order to close it out.
With a spot in the title game on the line, junior
Emily Antrim (Limerick, Maine) was outstanding against the Beacons – the only blemish a soft single that squirted past the outfield and rolled to the fence for a little league home run. Bessette singled in a run in the second, and the Panthers scored five unearned runs in the third behind two-run singles from junior
Keelie Wells (Milford, N.H.) and Bessette to build a 6-0 lead. UMass Boston took advantage of the slick grass for a run in the sixth, but PSU answered immediately and Antrim worked a clean seventh to secure the victory.
Plymouth State improves to 28-14, the second-most wins in program history and just two shy of the school record. The Panthers will make their third appearance in the championship game, needing one win in two chances on Sunday (May 11) to claim the title.
Southern Maine was eliminated by No. 5 Western Connecticut State, ending its season at 20-20. UMass Boston (29-11-1) will face the winner of the Wolves and No. 1 Eastern Connecticut in the loser's bracket final on Saturday (May 10).
The Basics:
- Game 5: Plymouth State 5, Southern Maine 2
- Game 7: Plymouth State 7, UMass Boston 1
- Plymouth State (28-14)
- Southern Maine (20-20)
- UMass Boston (29-11-1)
How it Happened (Southern Maine):
- Bessette singled, stole second, advanced on an error, and scored on a sacrifice fly for an early 1-0 lead.
- Southern Maine answered with three consecutive two-out hits to tie it in the first.
- The Huskies threatened in the second, but Guertin threw out a runner trying for third to end the inning.
- Bessette singled again in the third, stole second, and scored on sophomore Avery Couch's (Fort Worth, Texas) RBI single to retake the lead.
- USM tied it at 2-2 in the bottom half.
- Southern Maine looked poised to take the lead after loading the bases with no outs in the fourth, but senior Mia Ly (Lowell, Mass.) snared a line drive and doubled off the runner on first, and McGrath induced a groundout to escape unscathed.
- PSU used the momentum for a two-out rally in the fifth. Ly, junior Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.), and Guertin singled to make it 3-2, then Macri added an RBI single.
- The Panthers added insurance in the sixth as Bessette singled, stole second, and scored on a base hit by junior Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) to make it 5-2.
- After a rain delay of over two hours, McGrath returned to retire the side in order in the seventh.
By the Numbers (Southern Maine):
- McGrath allowed seven hits and two earned runs in a complete-game win, striking out four to improve to 13-6.
- K. Bessette went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and three stolen bases.
- E. Bessette drove in two runs, while Couch singled, doubled, and walked.
- Eight different Panthers recorded hits.
How it Happened (UMass Boston):
- E. Bessette turned a double play to erase a leadoff single in the second, and PSU struck in the bottom of the inning. Guertin walked, advanced on a bunt, and two more walks loaded the bases. K. Bessette singled to left for a 1-0 lead, though that's all the Panthers would get.
- The Beacons threatened in the third but Antrim stranded two in scoring position.
- PSU capitalized on a defensive miscue in the third, scoring five unearned runs. Guertin drove in a run, Wells had a two-run, pinch-hit single, and K. Bessette added a two-run base hit to center.
- In the fourth, Guertin walked and Macri doubled to the fence, but Guertin was thrown out at the plate.
- UMass Boston's lone run came on a one-out single that snuck under a glove and rolled to the wall for a little league homer.
- PSU answered in the sixth as Ly doubled and Nezuch lined a soft hit past the second baseman for a 7-1 lead.
- The Panthers closed it out with strong defense – Ly made a stretch at first for the second out, and senior Kaity Montelongo (South Paris, Maine) snagged an over-the-shoulder basket catch in foul territory for the final out.
By the Numbers (UMass Boston):
- Antrim struck out three and allowed five hits (zero earned runs) over seven innings on just 80 pitches.
- K. Bessette went 2-for-3 with a walk, a steal, and three RBIs.
- Guertin reached base three times (single, two walks), scored twice, and drove in a run.
- Ly and Nezuch each doubled and walked, with Ly scoring twice and Nezuch driving in one and scoring once.
- Montelongo walked twice and scored.
- Wells delivered a clutch pinch-hit, two-run single in her only at-bat.
Up Next:
- Friday's games have been postponed due to anticipated weather. The championship game is set for Sunday (May 11), with Plymouth State needing one win in two chances to capture its first-ever LEC title. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
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