Keene, NH – Nora Galvin (junior; Windham, NH) and Keene State’s Mariah Crisp squared off in game one, only giving up a combined six hits, in a 1-0 loss for the Panthers. They came back in game two, touching Keene pitching for nine runs while Whitney Roberts (sophomore; Chocorua, NH) pitched five one-run innings to lead Plymouth to a 9-1 win to split the double-header with LEC rival Keene State College.
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Game 1: KSC – 1 PSU – 0
Two seventh inning errors allowed Keene State to get into scoring position, and a single through the left side of the infield plated the game’s lone run and Keene State walked-off in game one of the LEC double-header.
Galvin and Crisp would go back-and-forth, holding each other’s squad scoreless through the first six innings, neither budged until the bottom of the seventh when Plymouth State miscues led to the game’s only run. Keene State was able to take advantage of two Panther errors to get runners on first and second. Galvin struck out the next batter, and was one out away from getting out of trouble. The next batter singled the left field, scoring the runner from second, and ending the game.
Plymouth was only able to muster three hits against Crisp, and Galvin was the tough-luck loser. She went 6.2 innings, with six strikeouts, one walk, while allowing three hits, and one run (unearned).
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Game 2: PSU – 9 KSC – 1 (5 innings)
A Bekah Jackson (junior; bases loaded triple, her second of the game, cleared the bases in the top of the fifth inning, an inning in which the Panthers erupted for five runs, to blow the game open and seal a Plymouth victory in game two of the double-header.
The scoring started in top of the first. Jackson led off with a triple and later scored on a wild pitch. Later in the inning Keene State miscues allowed another Panther run and Plymouth took an early 2-0 lead. Roberts got the start in game two and came out strong, getting a 1-2-3 inning to start off the game.
Plymouth struck again in the top of the second. Jackson singled and advanced to second on a steal and third on a passed ball. Calli DeGrace (senior; Plymouth, NH) drove her in with a single up the middle to take a 3-0 lead. Plymouth added another run in the top of the third. Cynthia Barata (sophomore; New Fairfield, CT) beat out an infield single to drive in another run, extending the lead to 4-0.
Keene added a run in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 4-1 game, but that’s as far as Roberts gave in. Plymouth blew the game open in the top of the fifth. Barata added another RBI with a sacrifice fly to left. Then, Jackson hit a bases loaded triple, and scored on an error to extend the lead to 9-1. Keene went down quietly in the bottom of the fifth, and the Panthers had earned a split.
Jackson led the way on offense going 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Barata chipped in going 1-for-2 with two RBIs, and DeGrace went 2-for-4 with a RBI. Roberts was strong on the mound. She went five innings, striking out three, walking four, while allowing five hits, and one run.
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After the split the Panthers’ record stands at 23-14 on the year. They are currently in second place in the LEC with an 8-4 in-conference record. Senior Day is this Saturday, April 27th, when the Panthers host in-conference Western Connecticut for a double-header. First pitch at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.