Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 KEENE, N.H.--Heather Pelletier hit her first home run of the season to lift the Keene State College softball team to a 5-2 win over Plymouth State University in the second game of a doubleheader at Owl Athletic Complex. The Panthers won the first game 5-0.
The win gives Keene State (13-17, 8-6 LEC) the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Little East Conference tournament that begins on April 30 at Eastern Connecticut State University. The Panthers are 13-19, with a matching 8-6 mark in the LEC. Keene State claims the No. 3 seed by virtue of a better regular season record against top seed Eastern Connecticut State. The Owls split a doubleheader with the Warriors on April 11, while the Panthers were swept by ECSU on April 25.
Game One
Plymouth State starter Whitney Roberts tossed a complete game five hitter in the opener. The Panthers opened the scoring by loading the bases with one out in the third. Keene State looked to be out of trouble when starter Ashlee McGan induced Nicole Abreu to hit into a fielder's choice that cut down Nina Murray at the plate, but the Owls could not end the inning, as a wild pitch brought in Rachel Morrissey, and Abrie Davis singled up the middle for a 2-0 lead.
Davis hit a solo home run that made it 3-0 in the fifth inning, and the Panthers added two more in the sixth thanks to a pair of KSC errors.
Roberts kept KSC in check throughout, allowing one extra base hit while striking out three. Her record improves to 8-8. McGan took the loss, allowing just one earned run and striking out three.
Game Two
It was the Owls who struck first in the nightcap, getting two runs in each of the first two innings to support starter Mariah Crisp.
Stephanie Long walked to open the frame, and moved to second on Aliza Guerrero's single to right field. Jen Galavotti walked to load the bases. Morgan Fallon hit into a fielder's choice that had Long thrown out at the plate, but Newell reached on her own fielder's choice that brought in Guerrero.
A Plymouth State error allowed Galavotti to score to make it 2-0.
In the second, Kayla Votto reached on a single to right and stole second. After Long walked for the second time in the game, Guerrero bunted both runners over, and Galavotti laid down another sacrifice bunt to bring Votto around. Fallon followed with an RBI double to right.
The Panthers halved the deficit in the fourth when Morrissey singled and Davis hit her second home run of the day, a two run shot that just got over the fence in right.
Crisp never let the Panthers back in it after that, setting down the final nine batters in order, getting Emma Rhodes looking to end the game. Pelletier hit a solo home run to lead off the sixth to give KSC some breathing room.
Crisp finished with a complete game, seven strikeout performance to pick up her fifth win of the season. Jessica Pietersen took the loss, allowing four runs in 1.2 innings.
Long was 1-for-1, with three walks.
The results mean the Panthers and Owls will meet again in their first game at the LEC tournament. Before that, Keene State will end the regular season by hosting a doubleheader against Westfield State University on Tuesday at 3 p.m.
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