CLERMONT, Fla. – Juniors
Kennedy Michaud (Auburn, N.H.) and
Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) blasted home runs to help Plymouth State University earn a split on the final day of THE Spring Games at Hancock Park on Friday.
Plymouth State's offense broke out against Plattsburgh State, as every starter reached base safely in an 8-4 win. Michaud and Couch powered the offense while graduate student
Emily Antrim (Limerick, Maine) turned in another strong outing in the circle, striking out seven in a complete-game victory.
Worcester State overpowered the Panthers in game two, 15-1, in five innings. Junior
Samantha Durrenberger (Antioch, Calif.) singled and scored the Panthers' lone run on a double by senior
Keelie Wells (Milford, N.H.).
Plymouth State ends its Florida trip at 4-8. Plattsburgh goes to 4-6, while Worcester State improves to 4-6.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 8, Plattsburgh 4
- Plymouth State 1, Worcester State 15 (5 Inn.)
- Plymouth State (4-8)
- Plattsburgh (4-6)
- Worcester State (4-6)
How it Happened (Plattsburgh):
- Senior Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) walked, stole second, and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on Couch's sacrifice fly to give PSU a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
- PSU extended the lead to 3-0 in the third. Sophomore Lilly Vetelino (Westerly, R.I.) doubled and scored on Bessette's base hit, and Bessette later scored on another Couch sacrifice fly.
- Michaud led off the fourth with a solo home run to center field to make it 4-0.
- Plattsburgh State got on the board in the bottom of the inning with the help of an error and a two-run homer to cut the lead to 4-2.
- Bessette singled and scored on a base hit by freshman Addison Willett (Kingston, Mass.) in the fifth. Willett was later retired on the bases, but Couch smashed a homer to left to extend the lead to 6-2.
- PSU added a run on a wild pitch in the sixth, and Michaud drove in Couch with a base hit in the seventh to make it 8-2.
- The Cardinals scored twice with two outs in the bottom of the inning to account for the final margin.
By the Numbers (Plattsburgh):
- Bessette reached base four times (three singles, one walk), stole two bases, scored three runs, and drove in one.
- Couch went 2-for-2 with a home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored.
- Michaud finished 2-for-4 with a home run, one run scored, and two RBIs.
- Willett and Vetelino also had multi-hit games. Willett singled twice and drove in a run, while Vetelino singled, doubled, and scored.
- Antrim scattered seven hits and struck out seven without issuing a walk. She allowed three earned runs in the complete-game win.
- Plymouth State has now won both meetings between the two teams.
How it Happened (Worcester State):
- The Lancers took advantage of a pair of errors to plate three unearned runs in the top of the second.
- Worcester State extended the lead to 9-0 with a six-run third inning.
- Bessette smacked a triple in the bottom of the inning but was stranded.
- The Lancers added six more runs in the fourth.
- Wells doubled home Durrenberger in the bottom of the frame to make it 15-1, but that was all the offense would muster.
By the Numbers (Worcester State):
- Durrenberger singled and scored in her lone at bat.
- Wells went 1-for-1 with an RBI double.
- Bessette tripled.
- The Panthers had been 4-0 against Worcester State prior to the game.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State travels to Albertus Magnus on Wednesday (Mar. 25) for a pair of games starting at 3 p.m.
– 30 –
