Game 1 Statistics
Game 2 Statistics

BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Plymouth State University tallied six runs in the first inning of the day and two in the very last, coming away with a pair of non-conference softball results against the University of New England, 6-4 and 3-0, at Nor'easter Diamond on Thursday (May 1).

The Panthers (23-14) received seven strong innings from Emily Antrim in the nightcap to seal the sweep.

The Nor'easters (10-28) round out the regular season on Saturday (10:30 a.m.) with a Conference of New England (CNE) doubleheader against Gordon College.

Plymouth sent 10 batters to the plate during the initial frame of GAME 1 (PSU 6-4), netting the six runs on six hits and two free passes. Avery Couch made it 2-0 with a home run to left, Abbey Nezuch doubled for one more, Kennedy Michaud provided a two-run double, and Kiera Larson singled in another.

UNE relief pitcher Kara MacDonald kept the Panthers off of the board the rest of the way, though, dealing the final 6.1 innings with five strikeouts, and scattering four singles and three walks. Defensively, Abby Walsh helped hold PSU in the 7th with a sliding grab on a bunt attempt [Watch].

The Nor'easters chipped away at the deficit, starting with a Hannah Irons RBI-single in the 2nd [Watch]. In the 3rd, following a hit-by-pitch and Fiona Casey double, Walsh lofted a sacrifice fly to make it 6-2. The hosts cashed in on a leadoff single by Hannah Lappin in the 4th, getting a two-out single from Elise Connor before Delaney Whitten found a gap for an RBI-double [Watch]. Walsh walked and later scored on a Grace Riva RBI-single in the 5th, as the spread was trimmed down to 6-4 [Watch].

However, the 5th was the second frame where the Nor'easters left the bases loaded, part of 12 runners stranded in the contest. PSU reliever Kate McGrath, who picked up the win, then worked a 1-2-3 6th inning, and was not rattled with an opening single in UNE's last chance.

Larson and Jade Guertin had two singles for the visitors, while Irons and Whitten recorded multiple hits for the home squad.

Antrim collected four strikeouts, against just two hits and one walk, while backstopping Plymouth State in GAME 2 (PSU 3-0). UNE's Emma Michaud singled in the 4th to become the first baserunner behind Antrim, and Emma Koenig knocked a two-out double in the 5th. A leadoff walk in the 7th was erased by shortstop Emily Bessette, doing most of the work in the ensuing double-play.

Kenzie Bessette legged-out an infield single to start the Panthers in the 1st, stole second, and her twin followed with an RBI-double to make it 1-0. Irons helped keep it to just one with a nice double-play at shortstop, fielding a grounder and tagging the runner that had already crossed in front, before still throwing across the diamond for the out [Watch].

The only time there were two runners left on base by either side in the match was in the PSU 2nd, after the first two batters reached with singles. Cat Higgins navigated around that situation from the UNE circle, and then didn't allow a runner past second base from the 3rd stanza through the 6th.

But in the top of the 7th, Plymouth State had two on with one away when K.Bessette singled up the middle for an insurance run. Higgins' day was done after 6.1, with four strikeouts, and the ensuing pitch was wild as the margin extended to 3-0.