PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) had six hits and graduate pitcher
Emily Antrim (Limerick, Maine) tossed a three-hit shutout as Plymouth State University swept Western Connecticut State University in a Little East Conference doubleheader at D&M Park on Saturday afternoon.
Bessette went 4-for-4 and scored a pair of runs as the Panthers took the opener, 7-1, while Antrim needed just 67 pitches to fire a complete-game, three-hit shutout in a 3-0 win to complete the sweep.
Plymouth State improves to 12-13-1 (4-2 LEC), while WestConn falls to 10-18 (1-9 LEC).
The Basics:
- Game One: Plymouth State 7, WestConn 1
- Game Two: Plymouth State 3, WestConn 0
- Plymouth State (12-13-1, 4-2 LEC)
- WestConn (10-18, 1-9 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- The Wolves plated a run in the top of the first and threatened for more in the second, but freshman Allie Cecere (Plainville, Mass.) worked out of a bases-loaded jam to keep the deficit at 1-0.
- Bessette sparked a four-run rally with a leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth. Junior Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) followed with an RBI double and later scored on a sacrifice fly to give PSU a 2-1 lead. Two more runs scored on WestConn errors as the Panthers pushed the lead to 4-1.
- Bessette scored on an error in the fifth, and Plymouth State tacked on two more in the sixth.
- Cecere retired 10 of the last 12 batters she faced to seal the victory.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Bessette went a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs scored.
- Couch finished 1-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs.
- Senior Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.) had two hits and drove in two.
- Cecere struck out three in the complete-game victory.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- WestConn led off the second with a double, but Antrim worked out of the jam.
- PSU took advantage of an error to grab a 1-0 lead in the bottom half.
- Senior Ariana Cray (Merrimack, N.H.) singled, and Bessette followed with an RBI triple in the third before a Nezuch sacrifice fly extended the lead to 3-0.
- That was more than enough for Antrim, who faced just one over the minimum the rest of the way.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Antrim needed just 67 pitches to complete the game, allowing three hits and just five baserunners while striking out three.
- Cray went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
- Bessette singled and tripled in three at-bats, scoring once and driving in a run.
- Plymouth State turned two double plays.
- PSU's last sweep in the series came in 2021; the teams had split every meeting since.
Up Next:
- The Panthers travel to Southern Maine for an LEC doubleheader on Tuesday (Apr. 21) starting at 4 p.m.
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