Game 1 Statistics
Game 2 Statistics
BIDDEFORD, Maine -- The University of New England softball squad chalked up two victories over Plymouth State University in its home opener on Tuesday (Mar. 22) at Nor'easter Diamond. UNE did just enough to support a complete-game effort by
Jordan Strum for a 4-3 win to start things off, and then overcame an early deficit for an 8-5 triumph in the nightcap.
Coming off a 10-game week in Florida, the Nor'easters improve to 5-7 overall. UNE has won the last five meetings versus the Panthers, who slip back to 5-6.
Tina LeBlanc had a team-high three hits on the day for the hosts.
The Nor'easters made the first move in
GAME 1 (UNE 4-3) with back-to-back extra-base hits in the bottom of the 3rd. A double to left-center from
Becca Dumont plated the initial run, and
Megan Chamberlain followed with a triple to right-center that scored Dumont.
Plymouth State bounced right back in the 4th, though, putting three across for the lead. It all happened with two away, as Jade Guertin first knocked in a pair from scoring position with a double down the line in left. Katie Burk made it 3-2 moments later with an RBI-single.
However, with one down in the last half of that frame, UNE answered to regain the edge. Singles from
Abby Walsh and LeBlanc (first of two) turned into second and third after a sacrifice bunt. A dropped fly ball in deep center on the ensuing play allowed both to cross.
That was all Strum needed in the circle, as she fanned five in the last nine PSU outs to slam the door shut. Strum posted a career-best 10 strikeouts against five hits and three walks, and two of the runs against were earned.
Nicole LeBrun took the pitching loss for the Panthers, giving up four hits and a couple walks while striking out three.
Plymouth State stepped in front during the 2nd inning of
GAME 2 (UNE 8-5) with an RBI-single by Jersey Strum -- younger sister of UNE's Jordan -- to score an unearned run. The visitors threatened for more right there, but left the bases juiced. The margin doubled (2-0) in the 3rd as Sam McCann touched home again on a single by Rachyl Parslow.
But the Nor'easters got even (2-2) in the bottom of the stanza. A lead-off double from Groves was eventually cashed in on with a hit from
Grace Tutt, and
Abby Miner followed with a two-out triple laced into right-center.
Chamberlain drew a bases-loaded free pass with two outs in the 4th to slide UNE ahead for good (3-2). After the rare right field-to-first base groundout was executed by
Makenzy Herron and Miner an inning earlier, the duo connected again for the day's only double-play to get through the top of the 5th. Herron then carried that bit of momentum into her next plate appearance minutes later and capitalized on a pair of two-out walks by dropping a double into right-center for a 5-2 cushion.
Tutt and Miner did more damage prior to the first out in the 6th, as the unanswered runs stretch increased to eight (8-2). Tutt joined Groves with two hits in the game, notching an RBI-double, and then Miner plated both Chamberlain and Tutt with her second base knock. Miner, a rookie, leads the Nor'easters in batting average and runs batted in so far this season.
The Panthers managed to make things a bit interesting in their final chance, as Kaity Montelongo, Madison Pelletier, and Parslow all doubled into the left-center gap. Guertin put a long single into the same spot to cut the deficit to three, but that's where the rally attempt fell short.
Kate Wilmot went four innings to pick up the win in the circle for UNE, surrendering just one earned run.
Former Nor'easter Alyssa Wilson was charged with the pitching setback for Plymouth State, striking out six in 4 2/3 innings of work.
Next up: UNE will entertain Husson University for a twinbill on Saturday afternoon (1 p.m.).
