NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Freshman
Allie Cecere (Plainville, Mass.) went the distance, and senior
Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) was dynamic at the plate as Plymouth State University salvaged a split of a non-conference doubleheader against Albertus Magnus College at Shea Softball Complex on Wednesday.
The Falcons used two big innings to take game one, 13-4, in five innings, while Cecere delivered a solid performance in the circle and Bessette had four hits and scored three runs as the Panthers claimed game two, 10-4.
Bessette's RBI single in the fourth tied game two at 2-2, and PSU would score three more times on a wild pitch and error to take the lead for good. The Panthers added runs in the fifth and sixth innings before putting the game away with a three-run seventh, capped by Bessette's two-run double. Cecere scattered eight hits in the win.
Albertus scored five times in the bottom of the first inning of the opener to grab an early lead. The Panthers rallied with a four-run third, as junior
Kennedy Michaud (Auburn, N.H.) singled home two runners in the frame, but the hosts responded with eight runs in the bottom half of the inning and PSU was unable to rally.
With the split, Plymouth State moves to 5-9 on the season, while Albertus Magnus is 8-8.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 4, Albertus Magnus 13 (5 Inn.)
- Plymouth State 10, Albertus Magnus 4
- Plymouth State (5-9)
- Albertus Magnus (8-8)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Albertus jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
- PSU rallied in the third, as senior Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.) drew a bases-loaded walk to get the Panthers on the board. Michaud singled in two runs, and sophomore Lilly Vetelino (Westerly, R.I.) cut the deficit to 5-4 with a run-scoring hit.
- The Falcons answered in the bottom half, scoring eight times to extend the margin to 13-4.
- Nezuch doubled and freshman Addison Willett (Kingston, Mass.) walked with two outs in the fifth, but PSU was unable to rally.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Nezuch doubled, walked, scored a run and drove in a run.
- Michaud finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
- Willett walked twice, while Vetelino singled and walked in two at-bats.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Bessette singled, stole second, moved to third on a base hit, and scored on a wild pitch as the Panthers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first.
- The Falcons loaded the bases with no outs in the second, but Cecere limited the damage to just two runs.
- PSU rallied into the lead in the fourth. With runners on second and third, Bessette singled in a run to tie it at 2-2. A wild pitch gave the Panthers the lead, and two runners scored on an error to make it 5-2.
- Willett extended the margin to 6-2 with an RBI groundout in the fifth, and junior Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) doubled home Bessette in the sixth for a 7-2 lead.
- Freshman Gianna DiSpirito (Cranston, R.I.) knocked in a run in the seventh, and Bessette's double pushed the lead to 10-2.
- The Falcons attempted a rally in their final at-bat, loading the bases with no outs, but Cecere escaped, allowing just two runs to account for the final score.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Bessette finished 4-for-5 with two doubles, three runs scored, and three RBIs.
- Couch doubled and drove in three runs.
- DiSpirito was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
- Senior Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) reached base three times with a single and two walks and scored a run.
- Cecere surrendered eight hits and four runs in the complete-game win.
- Plymouth State won the only other meeting between the two teams.
Up Next:
- The Panthers open Little East Conference (LEC) play on Saturday (Mar. 28) at UMass Dartmouth, with games at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
– 30 –
