Box Score DARTMOUTH, Mass. – Plymouth State University senior Whitney Roberts (Chocorua, N.H.) threw a complete-game, five-hitter and junior Nicole Abreu (Hudson, N.H.) went 3-for-3 to lead the Panthers to a 4-2 victory over the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth this afternoon in the Little East Conference softball opener.
The second half of the doubleheader was called in the top of the first inning due to a steady rain and unplayable field conditions.
Roberts earned her first win of the season, allowing five hits—four singles and a double—and two runs on 100 total pitches. The senior right-hander registered four strikeouts, and issued on base on ball. Roberts settled down after surrendering a run in the second, retiring 14 of the next 15 batters she faced between the third and seventh inning.
Abreu accounted for half of Plymouth State hits, registering three singles. Sophomore Katie Kennard (Concord, N.H.) went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored, while freshman Abrie Davis (Amherst, N.H.) tallied the remaining base knock.
UMass Dartmouth cracked the scoring column in the bottom of the second inning, when freshman Dylan Parsons (Methuen, Mass.) laced a two-out double into the right centerfield gap. Sophomore Abby Tremblay (New Bedford, Mass.) followed suit with a single over the shortstop to plate Parsons from second.
The Panthers capitalized on a pair of Corsair defensive miscues to score three unearned runs in the fourth. After a lead-off single and stolen base, UMass Dartmouth was unable to execute a throw back into second base that allowed the runner to score on the two-bag error. With runners at second and third, Abreu delivered an RBI single to left field that drove in a run while another runner raced home off a fielding error to give the visitors a 3-1 advantage.
Plymouth State tacked on an insurance run in the fifth with back-to-back doubles to centerfield.
The Corsairs would not go quietly in their final at-bat as three consecutive hitters reached base safely with two outs. Parsons ignited the rally with a single, while Tremblay followed with a single to right field. A wild pitch allowed both runners to move into scoring position for junior Rachel Carey (Holbrook, Mass.). Carey drew a 3-1 walk to load the bases, but the wild pitch allowed Parsons to score from third, whittling the deficit to 4-2. Roberts was able to escape the jam by getting the pinch hitter to foul out to the second baseman.
Parsons and Tremblay combined for four of the five UMass Dartmouth hits. Parsons was 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored, while Tremblay was 2-for-3 with a RBI. Junior Shannon Orton (Swansea, Mass.) was saddled with the loss after giving up one earned run and five hits over five strong innings. Freshman Hannah Smith (Attleboro, Mass.) worked two scoreless innings in relief.
UMass Dartmouth (3-8, 0-1 LEC) will return to action at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, when the Corsairs host Roger Williams University.
