Another Split Doubleheader for Panther Softball

DANBURY, Conn.-Plymouth State University’s softball team split a doubleheader for the third time in four days Saturday afternoon at Westside Field, coming back to win the nightcap of the Little East Conference twinbill against Western Connecticut State University, 6-4, after dropping the opener, 3-1.The Panthers, who also traded wins with Fitchburg State and Eastern Connecticut last week, entered Wednesday’s contests against Saint Joseph’s at 8-9 overall and a 2-2 mark in the LEC.  Western Conn., the three-time defending LEC regular season champs, is now 9-10 overall and 2-2 in conference play.In the opener, the Colonials scattered six hits.  Junior Melissa Walsh belted two doubles and drove in an insurance run in the sixth.  In WestConn’s three-run sixth inning, Holly Szymanski singled down the left field line, Jennifer Caveney reached on a fielder’s choice, and sophomore Emily Ann Cullen belted her third home run of the season over the wall in left field.Freshman Meg Cirigliano earned the win after coming on in the top of the sixth inning.  She struck out three after coming on in relief for starter Brooke Morris.Plymouth State had eight hits, led by seniors Maria Curran and Krissy Crego who had two hits apiece.  Crego drove in PSU’s only run with a second-inning single to center. Junior Kim Jeffs took the loss despite striking out seven, all in the first three innings.In the nightcap, the Panthers took advantage of two errors by the Colonials to score three unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Junior Jess Rousselle reached on an error, sophomore Jess Fortin walked and Jeffs had an RBI single to left field, scoring Rousselle. After an intentional walk to Kristin Balles, Sara Madden singled to right field, plating Fortin, and Curran added an RBI single to score Balles.  Freshman Nicole Lovejoy worked out a bases-loaded walked to close out the scoring for Plymouth State in its last at bat.Sophomore Rose Eaton improved to 3-3 after coming on for Jeffs in the fourth inning.  She struck out one and yielded just four hits.After having their home opener rained out again on Tuesday, PSU is back in action tomorrow when they host a doubleheader against Rhode Island College. The first four home dates this season were rained out.