BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Freshman
Allie Cecere (Plainville, Mass.) surrendered just one run in a complete-game victory, and graduate student
Emily Antrim (Limerick, Maine) recorded a six-out save in game two as Plymouth State University swept Bridgewater State University in a non-conference doubleheader at Alumni Park on Tuesday.
Cecere allowed only a first-inning run, while senior
Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) blasted a go-ahead two-run homer in the third inning to lift the Panthers to a 2-1 win in the opener.
Sophomore
Mackenzie Griswold (Bath, N.H.) escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the first inning of game two to help PSU complete the sweep with a 9-3 victory. The Panthers held a 4-3 lead after five innings before pulling away with runs in the sixth and seventh, as Antrim slammed the door.
With the sweep, Plymouth State improves to 8-10, while Bridgewater State falls to 11-7.
The Basics:
- Game One: Plymouth State 2, Bridgewater State 1
- Game Two: Plymouth State 9, Bridgewater State 3
- Plymouth State (8-10)
- Bridgewater State (11-7)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Bridgewater State led 1-0 three batters into the bottom of the first, but Cecere induced an infield popup and a double play to end the threat.
- PSU used a two-out rally to take the lead in the third, as freshman Gianna DiSpirito (Cranston, R.I.) singled and Bessette followed with a two-run blast to make it 2-1.
- The Bears doubled with two outs in the fourth to put the tying run in scoring position, but Cecere induced a groundout to preserve the lead.
- BSU brought the go-ahead run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh, but Cecere got a flyout to seal the win.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Bessette went 1-for-3 with a home run.
- Cecere struck out two and allowed just five hits.
- Senior Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) doubled in three at-bats.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- Griswold worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the first.
- E. Bessette singled in a run in the third before junior Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) doubled to make it 2-0. Two more runs scored on infield groundouts to extend the lead to 4-0.
- The Bears again loaded the bases with no outs in the third, but Griswold limited the damage to two runs.
- Back-to-back doubles by the hosts cut the lead to 4-3 after four innings.
- K. Bessette ripped an RBI double in the sixth, and E. Bessette made it 6-3 with a run-scoring groundout.
- Antrim retired the side in order in the bottom of the inning, and the Panthers tacked on three insurance runs in the seventh thanks to an error and two sacrifice flies.
- PSU turned a double play in the bottom of the seventh to seal the sweep.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- K. Bessette reached twice (double, walk) to extend her hitting streak to 15 games.
- E. Bessette finished 1-for-3 with a walk, a run scored and two RBIs.
- Freshman Courtney McKenna (Northport, N.Y.) reached base three times (single, two walks) and scored twice.
- Griswold struck out four and allowed three runs in five innings to earn the win.
- Antrim picked up her second career save.
- Plymouth State's last win in the series came during the 1991 season.
Up Next:
- The Panthers travel to Mitchell College on Monday (Apr. 6) for a pair of games.
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