PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) has been named the Plymouth State University Female Athlete of the Month for March, sponsored by the New Hampshire Army National Guard, following an outstanding stretch at the plate for the softball team.
 
Bessette was a catalyst for the Panthers' offense throughout the month, producing consistent results while reaching base at a high clip. She hit .500 (25-for-50) across 15 games, scoring 18 runs and driving in 10 while adding six doubles and a pair of home runs. Bessette also swiped 17 bases and posted a .528 on-base percentage and a .740 slugging percentage.
 
She opened the month with a strong showing during the team's spring break trip, highlighted by a 4-for-4 performance with three runs scored, two RBIs and a home run against Manchester on Mar. 16. Bessette continued to swing a hot bat with multi-hit efforts against Babson and Franklin & Marshall, while also reaching base safely three times and scoring three runs against Smith on Mar. 19.
 
Bessette carried that momentum into the final week of the month, delivering a pair of multi-hit games in a doubleheader against Albertus Magnus on Mar. 25, including a 4-for-5 effort with three runs scored and three RBIs in the nightcap. She closed the month with another strong showing against Bridgewater State on Mar. 31, launching a game-winning home run in the opener and driving in three runs across the doubleheader.
 
Her performance earned recognition across the nation, as Bessette was named Little East Conference (LEC) Player of the Week on Mar. 23 and selected as a National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Top Performer on Mar. 24 and Mar. 31. She was also named to the NFCA Player of the Year Watchlist on Apr. 3 and continued to add to her historic season by setting the program record for career stolen bases on Apr. 6.
 
Bessette currently ranks among the top-15 of the league in several offensive categories, including stolen bases (first), doubles (second), batting average (third), slugging percentage (third), on base plus slugging (third), hits (fourth), home runs (fifth), runs scored (sixth), and on base percentage (13th).
 
Bessette and the Panthers open the home slate on Tuesday (Apr. 14) with a twin bill against VTSU Castleton. Game one is set for a 3 p.m. first pitch.