Panthers Go One for Four Over the Weekend

The PSU Softball team ended their regular season over the weekend with a pair of LEC double headers. On Saturday, they faced Eastern Connecticut at home for Senior Day, and dropped both games to the Warriors. The Panthers split the bill with Keene State on Sunday afternoon, winning the first game, but giving up the nightcap to the Owls.

In the first game on Saturday, Eastern was the first on the board in the top of the first inning with a sacrifice RBI grounder from senior Sam Rossetti and steadily tacked on two more runs over the next two innings. Plymouth answered in the bottom of the third with a three-RBI double from senior Cynthia Barata (New Fairfield, CT). Classmate Sam Madore (Bristol, CT) followed with a RBI single to center field that drove Barata home. This gave the Panthers the lead with a score of 4-3.

Eastern was able to tie it up in their next at-bat in the top of the fourth with a RBI single from junior Alyssa Hancock. The Panthers took back the lead with their own RBI single from junior Nicole Abreu (Hudson, N.H.) in the bottom of the inning, bringing the score to 5-4. The action at home plate was quiet over the next couple of innings, until Eastern pulled ahead in the top of the seventh by scoring three runs. Plymouth was unable to send any more home in the bottom of the inning, and dropped the first game to Eastern, the final score 5-7.

Senior pitcher Whitney Roberts (Chocorua, N.H.) tossed a full game, taking the loss for PSU. She allowed seven runs on eight hits, while striking out four.

The second game was scoreless until Eastern exploded at the plate in the top of the third, scoring six runs. Sophomore Summer Cipriani kicked it off with a RBI double and classmate Kristyn Ryan pounded out a grand slam, giving the Warriors a 6-0 lead. Ryan tacked on two more with a two-RBI single in the top of the fifth before Plymouth got on the board in the bottom of the inning with a two-RBI double from sophomore Katie Kennard (Concord, N.H.). This brought the score to 2-8.

The Warriors added one more run in the top of the sixth with a RBI single from sophomore Tyler Keegan. Plymouth was able to tack on three more in the bottom of the seventh on a RBI single from sophomore Rachel Morrissey (Salem, N.H.) and a couple of Warrior errors following a single by Kennard that resulted in two runs scored, but it would not be enough. Eastern would complete the sweep with a final score of 5-9.

Freshman pitcher Jessica Pietersen (Norton, M.A.) took the loss for Plymouth, throwing five innings, giving up the nine runs on twelve hits. She struck out three.

In the opening game on Sunday at Keene, the Panthers were able to keep the Owls scoreless for all seven innings. Morrissey scored first for PSU in the top of the third on a wild pitch. Freshman Abrie Davis (Amherst, N.H.) added another with a RBI single during the same inning. Davis also connected with a home run in the top of the fifth, increasing the Panther lead to 3-0.

PSU’s last two runs were scored on a pair of defensive errors by the Owls in the top of the sixth inning. Freshman Kim Leiter (Manchester, N.H.) crossed home on a throwing error and classmate Nina Murray (Saugus, M.A.) reached on a fielding error. Keene was unable to pull off a comeback in their last two at-bats, making the final score 5-0.

Roberts took the win on the mound, throwing a full game. She allowed just five hits and struck out three for the shutout.

The Owls were the first on the board in the nightcap, putting up two runs in the bottom of the first. Senior Katie Newell connected with a RBI single, and a Panther fielding error allowed sophomore Jennifer Galavotti to score. They chalked up another two in the bottom of the second with a RBI sacrifice bunt from Galavotti and a RBI double from junior Morgan Fallon.

Plymouth answered in the top of the fourth with another homer from Davis that drove in two runs, bringing the score to 2-4. Keene retaliated with a home run of their own in the bottom of the sixth from junior Heather Pelletier. The Panthers were unable score any more during their last at-bat, and dropped the game with a final score of 2-5.

Only pitching just over one inning, Pietersen took the loss. She allowed four runs on three hits, while tossing one strikeout.

After the weekend, the Panthers drop to the fourth spot in the LEC standings with an overall record of 13-19 (8-6 LEC). They will take on Keene State in Game 3 (#4 vs. #3) of the first round of the LEC Tournament on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. in Mansfield, C.T.