Softball Splits with Plymouth State
Framingham, Mass. – The Framingham State University softball team won game one of a non-conference doubleheader with Plymouth State this afternoon by a score of 7-3, but the Panthers regrouped to take the second 8-3 and earn a split at Farley Field.
With the split the Rams are now 13-19 on the season, while the Panthers are now 15-15.
The Rams took the lead for good in their first at bat of the game with four runs on five hits. The big hits in the inning were an RBI double from junior Taylor Ezold (Westfield, Mass.) and a two RBI single to right from senior Alyssa Shea (Lakeville, Mass.). Junior Yaya Faria (Acton, Mass.) drove in the last run on a single to left with two outs.
Three more runs in the second extended the Rams lead to 7-0 after two. Shea singled to right again driving in a pair and freshman Tiffany Agostini (Rehoboth, Mass.) plated the other on a ground out to second.
The Panthers began to chip away at the Rams lead in the top of the third as they capitalized on a pair of Framingham errors to score a pair of unearned runs. Junior Calli DeGrace (Plymouth, N.H) reached on a bunt single and advanced to third as the throw to first sailed into the outfield. Freshman Cynthia Barata (New Fairfield, Conn.) drove in DeGrace a batter later with a sacrifice fly to left. Senior Kristen Vibberts (West Hartford, Conn.) was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a single. Vibberts then stole third and came around to score as the throw from the Rams catcher sailed into leftfield.
Plymouth would add a single run in the sixth when Barata doubled and then came around to score on a passed ball. That was as close as the Panthers would get as Faria retired the Panthers in order in the seventh.
With the win, Faria improved her season record to 4-7 in the circle as she went seven innings allowing three runs, one earned, on six hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.
Freshman Brittany Orcutt (Chesire, Conn.) was tagged with the loss for the Panthers as she went six innings allowing seven runs, five earned, on nine hits with a walk and four strikeouts.
Shea finished game one 2-of-3 at the plate with four RBI, while senior Sherren Doyle (Middleboro, Mass.) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Junior Jenn Bove (Medford, Mass.) was the only Panther to record multiple hits in game one as she was 2-of-3 at the plate.
In game two, the Panthers took a 2-0 lead in their first at bat as they capitalized on three Framingham errors to score two runs without a hit. Jenn Bove reached on an error and then scored when senior Allie Luisi (North Kingstown, R.I.) reached on an error in the Rams infield. Luisi stole third and then scored when the throw went into the outfield.
Plymouth added a single run in the top of the fourth on RBI base hit from sophomore Taylor Mancini (Gansevoort, N.Y.) and a single run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Luisi to extend the lead to 4-0.
The Rams offense got going in the bottom of the fifth as they loaded the bases on singles from senior Alysia Morrissette (Ware, Mass.), sophomore Alyssa Begin (Salem, Mass.) and Doyle. Ezold delivered a bases clearing triple to center to cut the deficit to one. Sophomore Nora Galvin (Windham, N.H.) came on in relief for the Panthers and induced a strikeout to end the threat.
Plymouth State responded with four in the top sixth to open up an 8-3 lead. Sophomore Bekah Jackson (Nashua, N.H.) belted a two run triple to right and Jenn Bove plated a run with a rope down the leftfield line. Bove then scored on Rams sixth error in the game.
Morrissette was tagged with the loss for the Rams in game two going seven innings and allowing eight runs, two earned, on 13 hits with four strikeouts. Begin, Doyle, Ezold and Morrissette all had two hits apiece for the Rams.
Junior Ali Keith (Northfield, N.H.) picked up the victory for the Panthers going 4.2 innings and allowing three runs, all earned, on eight hits with four strikeouts. Galvin pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief surrendering just two hits with three strikeouts.
Jackson finished game two with a pair of hits, three RBI and two runs scored, while Jenn Bove and sophomore Jackie Digman (Burlington, Mass.) each went 3-for-4 at the plate.
The Rams return to action on Saturday with a MASCAC doubleheader against Fitchburg State at 1 p.m., while the Panthers resume LEC action on Saturday with a pair of games at UMass Boston beginning at 1 p.m.