After a rather harsh beginning to this sports season, spring is finally in the air. Unfortunately, it came a little too late for the athletic teams.
All four sports had great seasons, which showed outstanding talent. While the baseball and softball teams are done for the season; the men and women’s lacrosse teams were able to get a little farther.
After a rough outing at Fort Myers, FL, the baseball team faced hard times due to inclement weather and was forced to move their originally scheduled home game against River College on several instances. Unfortunately, wins didn’t come easy either. After losing to Keene State at MerchantsAuto.Com Stadium, the Panthers went on to lose nine straight games before splitting with Mass Maritime. After being swept by Rhode Island College, the baseball team’s playoff hopes were snuffed out. The team finished 12-24 overall and 3-11 in the Little East Conference, but failed to secure a playoff berth after finishing seventh in the conference.
Junior Brandon Hodge led the team this season offensively with a .379 batting average (BA) while smacking 47 hits in 124 at-bats. Hodge had three home runs with 31 RBI’s (Runs Batted In). Including Hodge, the Panthers had six total players who were batted over .300, while there were four other players who batted over .280. Overall the team hit a collective .305 batting average.
Junior pitcher Chip Hale led the team in ERA (Earned Run Average) with a 2.78 with a 3-7 record in 13 appearances. Hale struck out 30 while allowing 14 earned runs.
The softball team fared a little better this season, finishing 13-20 overall and 5-9 in the LEC. Unfortunately for the softball team, they only managed two home games this season after horrible weather kept them off the field. In their two home doubleheaders against Southern Maine and Western Connecticut, they failed to seal a victory.
The team featured an impressive staff, including several newcomers. Sophomore Rachel Pothier led the team with a .297 BA while batting in 13 runs in 64 at bats. Plymouth had only two other batters who hit over .280 while the remainder of the team hit .270 or lower. As a whole, the team had a combined .256 BA.
The pitching staff was anchored down this season by sophomore co-captain Courtney MacFarland who finished with a 2.74 ERA with a 6-7 record in 19 appearances. She struck out 45 while allowing 32 earned runs in 81 innings pitched. First-years Kat Roland, Ashley Pinkham and Beth Moretti all showed strong first seasons for the Panthers.
PSU was able to gain entry into the LEC Tournament but was quickly disposed of by top-seed ed Rhode Island College and fifth-seeded Southern Maine.
The men’s lacrosse team had an absolutely amazing season, bouncing back from an 8-9 overall season and finishing 3-3 in the conference. This season, the team finished 9-6 overall and 3-3 in the conference. Their record earned them a berth in the LEC Tournament, but UMass Boston defeated them 8-9 in overtime.
Senior co-captain Adam Krinsky led the team with 48 points (20 goals, 28 assists) while first-year Wes Downing had 31 points (27 goals, 4 assists). In goal, senior co-captain Steve Valeri got most of the playing time, starting in 14 games this season. He allowed 109 goals with an 8.13 goals allowed average with 178 saves. Senior Nick Grobe started in one game this season while playing in six total. He allowed six total goals with a 3.64 goals allowed average with 22 saves.
Although they were knocked out of the LEC Tournament, the Panthers earned a berth in the ECAC New England Tournament and received a first-round bye. They will host the semifinal game on Saturday.
The women’s lacrosse team faced their first LEC loss in 29 straight wins since the conference started women’s lacrosse in 2002. The team finished 12-5 overall and 5-1 in the conference. Plymouth earned a first-round bye in the LEC Tournament and defeated Keene State 10-2 in the semifinals. Plymouth had another shot at Eastern Connecticut, their only conference loss of the season. Unfortunately, they were defeated 10-9. The team was able to earn ECAC berth and will host the semifinal game this weekend.
Senior Annie Pinault led the team with 70 points (51 goals, 19 assists) while senior Kelsey MacDonald had 62 points (46 goals, 16 assists). As a whole, the team had a .402 shot percentage.
Junior Suzie Lilakos started and played in all 17 games and allowed 122 goals with a 7.13 goals allowed average. She had 158 saves with a .564 save percentage. She was 12-5 overall this season.