MIDDLEBURY, Vt. – Junior
Avery Couch (Fort Worth, Texas) totaled five hits, but third-seeded Plymouth State University fell to sixth-seeded University of Massachusetts Boston and fourth-seeded Eastern Connecticut State University on day one of the Little East Conference (LEC) Softball Tournament at Middlebury Softball Field on Thursday.
PSU scored single runs in each of the first two innings against the Beacons, but UMass Boston took the lead with a three-run homer in the top of the third and added a pair of unearned runs in the fifth to beat the Panthers, 5-2, in game two of the tournament.
The Panthers then squared off against Eastern Connecticut in an elimination game, with freshman
Addison Willett (Kingston, Mass.) delivering a two-run double in the bottom of the fourth to give PSU a 2-0 lead. The Warriors answered with a pair of runs in the next half inning before breaking the tie with a leadoff homer in the sixth. PSU had multiple runners on base in both the sixth and seventh innings, but was unable to come up with the big hit as ECSU eliminated the Panthers, 3-2.
Plymouth State ends the season with an 18-19-1 record. Eastern Connecticut improves to 23-17, while UMass Boston moves to 26-11.
The Basics:
- Game 2: Plymouth State 2, UMass Boston 5
- Plymouth State (18-18-1)
- UMass Boston (26-11)
- Game 3: Plymouth State 2, Eastern Connecticut 3
- Plymouth State (18-19-1)
- Eastern Connecticut (23-17)
How it Happened (UMass Boston):
- Seniors Emily Bessette (Cranston, R.I.), Abbey Nezuch (Marlborough, Mass.) and Ariana Cray (Merrimack, N.H.) all singled in the bottom of the first to give PSU an early 1-0 lead.
- Senior Kiera Larson (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) lined a one-out single in the second, then scored on a double by freshman Marisa Lizotte (North Andover, Mass.) to extend the lead to 2-0.
- UMass Boston belted a three-run homer in the third to take a 3-2 lead.
- Couch and Nezuch singled in the bottom half, but a double play ended the threat.
- Freshman Allie Cecere (Plainville, Mass.) worked around a two-out double in the fourth, but the Beacons added a pair of unearned runs in the fifth to make it 5-2.
- PSU put a pair of runners on with two outs in the bottom of the inning but came up empty.
- Another double play halted a PSU rally in the sixth, and Lizotte walked before senior Kenzie Bessette (Cranston, R.I.) doubled to put two runners in scoring position in the seventh, but the Beacons escaped the jam.
By the Numbers (UMass Boston):
- The Panthers totaled 11 hits, with Couch, Nezuch, Cray and Lizotte collecting two apiece.
- K. Bessette and Lizotte both doubled. Lizotte also walked to reach base three times.
- Cecere took the loss after allowing three earned runs over five innings.
How it Happened (Eastern Connecticut):
- Both teams put two runners on in the first inning, but neither was able to capitalize. E. Bessette and Nezuch had singles for the Panthers.
- Lizotte led off the third with a single, but was later thrown out attempting to steal as the game remained scoreless entering the fourth inning.
- ECSU put a runner on second with one out in the top of the fourth, but Cecere induced a flyout and groundout to retire the side.
- Couch ripped a leadoff double in the bottom half, then moved to third on Nezuch's single. Willett followed with a two-run double to give PSU a 2-0 lead.
- The Warriors answered with two runs in the top of the fifth to even the score.
- E. Bessette and Couch delivered back-to-back two-out hits in the bottom of the inning, but ECSU escaped the jam before using a leadoff homer in the sixth to pull ahead, 3-2.
- Cray, sophomore Eva Zuber (Lakeville, Mass.) and junior Kennedy Michaud (Auburn, N.H.) all recorded hits in the bottom of the sixth, but PSU was unable to pull even.
- E. Bessette and Couch singled with one out in the seventh to put the tying run in scoring position and the winning run on base, but the Warriors closed out the game.
By the Numbers (Eastern Connecticut):
- E. Bessette and Couch both went 3-for-4, with Couch adding a double and run scored.
- Nezuch singled twice in four at-bats.
- Willett went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs.
- Cecere went the distance, allowing three runs and striking out two in the setback.
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