GORHAM, Maine – Junior Lauren Archambault (Rehoboth, Mass.) had three hits on the afternoon, but the University of Southern Maine took both ends of a non-conference softball double header to snap Plymouth State University's five-game winning streak at USM Softball Stadium on Tuesday.
 
The Panthers had won nine-of-ten and nearly pulled out another dramatic win after putting the tying run on second in the top of the seventh, but came up just short in the opener, 6-5. Southern Maine limited PSU to four hits in the nightcap on the way to an 8-0 win.
 
Plymouth State moves to 9-7, while the Huskies improve to 22-1-1. The two teams will meet in Plymouth for a pair of Little East Conference (LEC) games in two weeks.
 
The Basics:

• Game 1: Plymouth State 5, Southern Maine 6
• Game 2: Plymouth State 0, Southern Maine 8 (6 Inn.)
  • Plymouth State (9-7)
  • Southern Maine (22-1-1)

 
How it Happened (Game One):

• Plymouth State got off to a good start as Archambault led off the game with an infield hit. Freshman Alexis Michon (Montville, Conn.) ripped an RBI double and junior Emily Picard (Berlin, N.H.) followed with a run-scoring single as the Panthers took a 2-0 lead.
• Southern Maine loaded the bases with two outs in the third. PSU nearly escaped the jam, but a throwing error followed by a single and allowed the Huskies to score six unearned runs to go in front.
• Neither team was able to must much offense until the Panthers rallied in the seventh. Sophomore Rachyl Parslow (Temple, N.H.) reached on an infield hit and senior Mina Shaw (Mars, Pa.) followed with a bunt hit. Archambault's second hit loaded the bases and a fielder's choice cut the deficit to 6-3.
• Picard knocked in a run with a ground ball and sophomore Sam McCann (Berlin, N.H.) followed with an RBI double to make it a one run game, but she was stranded at second.

By the Numbers (Game One):

• Archambault finished 2-of-3 with a walk and run scored, while Michon was 1-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBI.
• Picard knocked in two runs and McCann (double, walk) reached base twice.
• All six of the Huskies' runs were unearned. Freshman Nicole LeBrun (Concord, N.H.) was saddled with the loss after going 2.2 innings, while classmate Jersey Strum (Somersworth, N.H.) allowed just two walks over 3.1 innings in relief.

 
How it Happened (Game Two):

• PSU put two runners on in the second after a USM error and single from freshman Abby Kenison (Boscawen, N.H.), but a strikeout ended the inning.
• The Huskies opened the bottom of the frame with a single, triple and single to grab a 2-0 lead.
• Archambault led off the third with a clean single and advanced on a wild pitch, but Southern Maine worked out of the jam.
• Graduate student Jen Landers (Berlin, N.H.) roped a one-out double to right center in the fourth, but PSU was unable to come up with the clutch hit to drive her in and the Huskies tacked on two runs in the bottom of the inning.
• Five of the first six baters in the bottom of the fifth singled as USM pushed the lead to 7-0 and the hosts pushed an unearned run across in the sixth to end the game.

By the Numbers (Game Two):

• Archambault, Picard and Kenison all singled for the Panthers, while Landers had the lone extra base with a double.
• Michon, McCann and freshman Vanessa Bryan (Stoneham, Mass.) all worked walks.
• Michon (5-3) struck out six in her 4.1 innings, while Strum allowed just an unearned run over the final 1.1.

 
Up Next:

• Plymouth State returns to Little East Conference (LEC) action on Saturday (Apr. 24) with a home double header against the University of Massachusetts Boston.