PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Graduate student Caitlyn Miller (Lee, N.H.) and freshman Alexis Michon (Montville, Conn.) combined to allow just nine hits on the day as Plymouth State University won a pair of Little East Conference (LEC) softball games over the University of Massachusetts Boston at D&M Park on Saturday.
 
Miller allowed just two hits through the first six innings before the Beacons attempted a late rally as PSU took the opener 6-2. The Panthers took the nightcap 9-1 in five innings behind a dominant performance by Michon, who surrendered just a bunt hit through the first four innings and allowed just four hits in the game.
 
Plymouth State runs its record to 11-7 and goes to 6-2 in the LEC, while UMass Boston falls to 2-4 and 2-4 in league play.
 
The Basics:

• Game 1: Plymouth State 6, UMass Boston 2
• Game 2: Plymouth State 9, UMass Boston 1 (5 Inn.)
  • Plymouth State (11-7, 6-2 LEC)
  • Southern Maine (2-4, 2-4 LEC)

 
How it Happened (Game One):

• Miller struck out two and retired the first six Beacons in order, while the Panthers' bats broke through in the second. Junior Emily Picard (Berlin, N.H.) lined a leadoff double down the rightfield line. Sophomore Sam McCann (Berlin, N.H.) singled and junior Katie Burk (East Islip, N.Y.) drove in both with a ground rule double.
• PSU tacked on a pair of runs in the fifth. Graduate student Jen Landers (Berlin, N.H.) singled and stole second before coming home on freshman Abby Kenison's (Boscawen, N.H.) RBI single. Senior Mina Shaw (Lars, Pa.) came on to pinch run and promptly stole second, before racing home on Michon's run-scoring single to make it 4-0.
• McCann opened the sixth with a triple but was cut down at the plate as Burk reached on a fielder's choice. Landers, freshman Vanessa Bryan (Stoneham, Mass.) and Shaw all followed with singles to push the lead to 6-0.
• The Beacons pushed two runs across in the top of the seventh on a bunt hit and run-scoring triple and single, but Miller retired the final two batters for the win.

By the Numbers (Game One):

• Miller faced just one over the minimum through the first six innings. She struck out five while allowing just five hits to improve to 5-3.
• Michon (two singles), McCann (single, triple) and Landers (two singles) all had two-hit games for the Panthers.
• Picard and Burk each doubled with Burk knocking in two runs.
• Landers scored a pair of runs.

 
How it Happened (Game Two):

• Michon to impress at home, striking out two in the top of the first.
• After two quick outs, PSU exploded for a five-run rally in the bottom of the frame. Michon ripped a triple down the right field line and Picard singled her home. After McCann worked a walk, Burk's single loaded the bases and a UMB error allowed two more runs to cross the plate. Bryan followed with a two-run single to make it 5-0.
• Michon continued to rack up the strikeouts getting one in the second and two in both the third and fourth innings.
• Junior Lauren Archambault (Rehoboth, Mass.) reached on a one-out error in the bottom of the fourth and moved up on Michon's single. Picard followed with an RBI base hit and McCann pushed the lead to 7-0 with a run-scoring groundout.
• UMB broke through in the top of the seventh after starting the inning with a double and single to make it 7-1, but Michon recovered.
• PSU took advantage of some wildness by Beacons' pitching in the fifth as the first four batters were hit with pitches to make it 8-1. Archambault followed with an RBI single to right field to deliver the win.

By the Numbers (Game Two):

• Michon struck out eight and allowed just four hits, with three of them coming in the top of the fifth.
• Michon (triple, single), Picard (two singles) and Bryan (two singles) all posted two-hit games.
• Landers and Michon both scored a pair of runs, while Picard and Bryan each drove in two.
• PSU was 3-for-3 in stolen bases.

 
Up Next:

• The Panthers host the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth for a pair of LEC contests on Thursday (Apr. 29) starting at 2:00 p.m.