Softball Splits Double Header in Salem

On Thursday, March 31st, the Plymouth State Softball team had a doubleheader at Alumni Field of Salem State. The lady Panthers dropped the first game, but won the second for a split on the day.

In the first game, PSU barely got outplayed by the Vikings, losing 4-3. Both starting pitchers, PSU’s Kayla Mathieu (Fairfax, VT.) and Salem’s Meghan Black (Winchendon, MA.) played superb. It wasn’t until the fifth inning that they first runs were scored, where Salem State jetted out to a 3-0 lead. Bobbie Dee Regan hit a double that scored Dahlia DeCologero, who had previously walked, and then Regan scored on a single from Molly McLean. With the Vikings up 2-0, McLean would reach third base and score on a wild pitch to gain a 3-0 lead over PSU.

Following Salem State’s three runs scored in the bottom of the fifth, PSU was able to rattle off three runs of their own in the top of the sixth to tie the game. Allison Moylan (Methuen, MA.) was able to pick up two RBI’s with a double, scoring Taylor Wood (Londonderry, NH.), who reached on a double of her own, as well as Emma Rhodes (Rochester, MA.), who reached on a single. Callia Abbot (Atco, NJ.) would soon single, which scored Moylan on the play to tie the game.

In the bottom of the sixth, Salem would score another run; a single from Jen Crovo drove in Jess Raymond on the play, giving them the 4-3 lead going into the seventh. In the top of the inning with one out and a runner on first, Plymouth State would ground into a double play, which would end the game. The Vikings would get the nod in their first bout of the day, despite 11 PSU hits in the game.

Ileish Burney (Bristol, CT.) would get the win for the Vikings, giving up just two hits and a walk in two innings. Black allowed three runs on nine hits in five innings. Mathieu pitched for five innings, giving up six hits and three runs. PSU’s W hitney Roberts (Chocoura, NH.) w as handed the loss, allowing a run on two hits with a walk and a strikeout. Katie Kennard (Concord, NH.) and Rhodes each went 3-for-4 for the Panthers, while Regan went 2-for-3 for Salem State with a triple and a double.

PSU would get their revenge on the Vikings in the second game, beating them 7-1. PSU built their lead starting in the third inning with an RBI single from Kennard and a score by Wood on a wild throw. Salem State would then cut into PSU’s deficit, but not until the bottom of the sixth, where DeCologero would hit an RBI double that scored Crovo.

W ith the score 2-1 going into the top of the seventh, the Panthers exploded for five runs that would spoil the Vikings’ hopes of a comeback. The inning was started off by back-to-back singles by Moylan and Nina Murray (Saugus, MA.). Abrie Davis (Amherst, NH.) was able to get an RBI single following a sacrifice that got runners to second and third base. With the bases loaded, runs were scored on a passed ball and a throwing error to put PSU up 5-1. Then, there was a bases loaded walk that scored another run and finally a Moylan RBI single to put the nail in the coffin.

Abbot picked up the win for PSU, pitching into the sixth inning until being replaced by Roberts, while Burney took the loss, giving up two runs, although Black gave up five in the top of the seventh. DeCologero went 1-for-3 for Salem State, giving them their only RBI of the game, while Wood and Moylan had two hits apiece for the Panthers.

Salem State will host MCLA in an MASCAC doubleheader on Saturday at 1:00 PM, while Plymouth State traveled to Fitchburg yesterday, with scores unavailable for press time.