GORHAM, Maine – Junior
Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) drove in three runs and freshman
Allie Cecere (Plainville, Mass.) continued her dominant stretch in the circle as Plymouth State University split a pair of one-run games against the University of Southern Maine in Little East Conference action at USM Softball Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Cecere went the distance and allowed just one run for her third straight start, while Couch knocked in two runs as the Panthers took game one, 2-1.
Senior
Ariana Cray (Merrimack, N.H.) went 3-for-3 in the nightcap, driving in the game-tying run in the top of the seventh, but the Huskies walked it off with a two-out single in the bottom half to salvage the split.
Plymouth State improves to 13-14-1 (5-3 LEC), while Southern Maine moves to 19-10 (3-7 LEC).
The Basics:
- Game One: Plymouth State 2, Southern Maine 1
- Game Two: Plymouth State 2, Southern Maine 3
- Plymouth State (13-14-1, 5-3 LEC)
- Southern Maine (19-10, 3-7 LEC)
How it Happened (Game One):
- Senior Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) singled, stole second, and scored on Couch's two-out single to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
- The Huskies put two runners in scoring position with one out in the bottom half, but Cecere escaped unscathed.
- Southern Maine scored a two-out run to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth.
- PSU loaded the bases without a hit in the fifth but was unable to score.
- Senior Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) and Couch ripped back-to-back doubles to open the sixth and retake a 2-1 lead.
- The Panthers turned a double play to get out of a jam in the bottom of the frame, then Cecere stranding the tying run at second in the seventh to seal the win.
By the Numbers (Game One):
- Couch went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
- K. Bessette and sophomore Eva Zuber (Lakeville, Mass.) both reached base twice with a single and a walk.
- E. Bessette doubled and scored in three at-bats.
- Cecere struck out two in the complete-game victory.
How it Happened (Game Two):
- The Huskies took a 1-0 lead on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second.
- Couch responded with a sacrifice fly in the third to score K. Bessette and tie the game at 1-1.
- Southern Maine got a key two-out hit in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead, 2-1.
- Graduate pitcher Emily Antrim (Limerick, Maine) stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth to keep it a one-run game.
- Zuber led off the top of the seventh with a single and was bunted to second. After a walk to K. Bessette, Cray tied the game with a single to center.
- The Huskies led off the bottom half with a single, and the winning run was bunted to second. Antrim recorded an infield popup for the second out, but a base hit to right gave USM the walk-off win.
By the Numbers (Game Two):
- Cray reached base four times with three singles and a walk, including the game-tying RBI.
- Zuber had two singles and scored a run.
- K. Bessette added a single, walk, and a run scored.
- Antrim allowed three runs and struck out four in 6.2 innings.
Up Next:
- PSU hosts Eastern Connecticut State on Saturday (Apr. 25) with games at noon and 2 p.m.
– 30 –
