PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Graduate student Caitlyn Miller (Lee, N.H.) and freshman Alexis Michon (Montville, Conn.) were dominant in the circle in different ways on Saturday, leading Plymouth State University to a sweep of Keene State College in a pair of Little East Conference (LEC) softball games at D&M Park.
 
Miller allowed just one earned run in a 9-4 win in the opener, while Michon mowed down 14 batters to take game two by a 6-5 score. Michon's 14 strikeouts were the most for a Plymouth State pitcher since Hall of Famer Kim Jeffs fanned 15 in a game on April 16, 2005.
 
Plymouth State picks up its first wins of 2021 to improve to 2-4 overall and evens its LEC mark at 2-2. Keene State drops its season opener to fall to 0-2 (0-2 LEC).
 
The Basics:

• Game 1: Plymouth State 9, Keene State 4
• Game 2: Plymouth State 6, Keene State 5
  • Plymouth State (2-4, 2-2 LEC)
  • Keene State (0-2, 0-2 LEC)

 
How it Happened (Game One):

• Keene scratched across an unearned run in the top of the first, but the Panthers stormed back in the bottom of the inning.
• Junior Madison Harris (Randolph, Mass.) tied the game with her RBI double and classmate Emily Picard (Berlin, N.H.) put the Panthers ahead with a run-scoring single. A wild pitch advanced Picard to second and graduate student Jen Landers (Berlin, N.H.) ripped a two-out single to center to make it 3-1.
• The Owls got single runs in the second, third and fourth to take the lead.
• The first six batters reached safely in the bottom of the fifth as PSU went back in front. Harris had an RBI single, while Picard ripped a two-run homer to deep right center. Junior Lauren Archambault (Rehoboth, Mass.) also had a run-scoring hit in the frame.
• PSU added an insurance run in the sixth on freshman Kacie Johnston's (Campton, N.H.) RBI single to account for the final score.

By the Numbers (Game One):

• Miller went the distance to pick up her first win of the season, allowing just one earned run while striking out four.
• Harris finished the game with three hits in four at bats, scoring twice and driving in a pair. Picard went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored.
• Johnston and Landers both added two-hit games.

 
How it Happened (Game Two):

• Plymouth State jumped all over the Owls' starter, scoring five runs on seven hits in the bottom of the first. Harris and Picard ripped RBI doubles, Johnston and Archambault had run-scoring singles and junior Katie Burk (East Islip, N.Y.) drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
• Keene State plated two runs in the fourth on an infield hit, an RBI triple and a run-scoring ground out.
• PSU pushed the lead to 6-2 in the fifth when pinch runner Mina Shaw (Mars, Pa.) scampered home on a passed ball.
• The Owls made things interesting with three runs in the sixth, but Michon got a big strikeout to strand the tying runner at second and she retired the side in order in the seventh to pick up her first career win.

By the Numbers (Game Two):

• Michon (1-2) joined Jeffs as just the second player since 2000 to record at least 13 strikeouts in a game. Jeffs accomplished the feat an incredible 28 times.
• Michon struck out the side in the first and K'd two batters in the second, third, fifth, sixth and seventh innings.
• Johnston was the only Panther with two base hits, finishing 2-for-3 with a run scored and RBI.
• Picard (double, walk) and junior Niah Colby (Lunenburg, Vt.), who walked and singled, also reached base twice.

 
Up Next:

• Plymouth State heads to Keene, N.H. on Friday (Apr. 9) for a pair of non-conference games. First pitch is set for 3:30 p.m.