MANSFIELD, Conn. – Third-seeded Plymouth State University topped sixth-seeded Keene State College in game one of the Little East Conference (LEC) Softball Tournament, but was knocked out of the double-elimination tournament after a narrow setback to second-seeded and nationally-ranked Eastern Connecticut State University before a loss in a rematch with the Owls at Clyde Washburn Field on Tuesday.
 
Facing off against Keene State in its first game, the Panthers used a four-run second and strong start by graduate student Caitlyn Miller (Lee, N.H.) to cruise to an 8-3 win. All three of the Owls' runs were unearned, while junior Katie Burk (East Islip, N.Y.) went 3-for-4 with two RBI.
 
The win moved PSU into a matchup with Eastern Connecticut State, ranked sixth in the nation in the most recent National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) national poll. Freshman Alexis Michon (Montville, Conn.) was fantastic in the circle, holding the high-powered Warriors off the scoreboard through five, but ECSU broke through with three runs in the sixth. PSU got one back and brought the tying run to the plate in its final at bat couldn't complete the comeback.
 
The loss moved the Panthers into an elimination game rematch with the Owls, who put up two runs in each of the first two innings. Plymouth State cut the deficit in half with two in the top of the third, but the Owls hit a pair of two-run homers in the fourth and added another fun in the fifth for a 9-2 advantage. PSU tried to rally, scoring twice in the sixth and adding a run in the seventh, before coming up short, 9-5.
 
Plymouth State ends the season with a 16-13 mark, while Keene State and Eastern Connecticut will meet on Thursday for a chance to advance to Saturday's Championship series.
 
The Basics:

• Game 1: Plymouth State 8, Keene State 3
• Game 2: Plymouth State 1, Eastern Conn. St. 3
• Game 3: Plymouth State 5, Keene State 9
  • Plymouth State (16-13)
  • Keene State (8-22)
  • Eastern Conn. St. (27-2)

 
How it Happened (Game One):

• Keene put the first two runners on, but Miller retired the next three batters.
• Junior Niah Colby (Lunenburg, Vt.) got the Panthers started in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff single. After a sacrifice and foul out, walks to classmate Emily Picard (Berlin, N.H.) and sophomore Sam McCann (Berlin, N.H.) loaded the bases and Burk singled in the first run of the game. PSU nearly had more, but graduate student Jen Landers (Berlin, N.H.) was robbed of a hit on a defensive gem at third base to retire the side.
• The Owls put the first two hitters on base in the second and both came around to score on a PSU error as Keene went ahead 2-1.
• The Panthers came right back using a single from senior Mina Shaw (Mars, Pa.), error and Colby walk to load the bases and junior Lauren Archambault (Rehoboth, Mass.) scored them all with a double to the fence. A KSC error allowed Archambault to score as PSU went ahead 5-2.
• Plymouth State added two more runs in the fourth inning on RBI singles from McCann and Burk to make it 7-2 and Picard's single in the fifth plated freshman Vanessa Bryan (Stoneham, Mass.) for an 8-2 lead.
• Keene plated an unearned run in the sixth to account for the final score.

By the Numbers (Game One):

• Burk went 3-for-4 and drove in two, while McCann had two hits in three at bats with a run scored and RBI. Archambault drove in three runs and reached base three times (double, two walks), while Picard also reached three times (single, two walks).
• Miller improved to 7-6 after going the first five, allowing two unearned runs. Freshman Nicole LeBrun (Concord, N.H.) closed out the win with two strikeouts over the final two innings and surrendering just an unearned run.

 
How it Happened (Game Two):

• Eastern Connecticut had a prime scoring opportunity in the fourth after a leadoff triple, but Michon wrapped a pair of strikeouts around a groundout to keep the game scoreless.
• Sophomore Rachyl Parslow (Temple, N.H.) singled in the top of the sixth and was sacrificed to second. Colby worked a walk to put two on, but a lineout and ground ball ended the inning.
• The Warriors led off the bottom half with a double. The runner moved up a base on an out and came home on a single for a 1-0 lead. After the second out of the inning a two-run shot made it 3-0.
• With one out, McCann walked and moved around the bases on a wild pitch and passed ball. After the second out, graduate student Jen Landers (Berlin, N.H.) singled to cut the deficit to 3-1 and bring the tying run to the plate, but ECSU got a strikeout to force the Panthers into an elimination game.

By the Numbers (Game Two):

• PSU was limited to three hits – singles by Michon, Landers and Parslow – and walks to Colby and McCann.
• Michon was solid in her first postseason start, going six innings and allowing just five hits and three runs while striking out five. She moved to 9-5 with the setback.

 
How it Happened (Game Three):

• Keene jumped out to a 2-0 lead after banging out four hits, including a pair of triples, in the bottom of the first.
• The lead grew to 4-0 on a two-run triple in the second.
• Plymouth State rallied in the third. Shaw and Colby singled, and a run came home on Archambault's fielder's choice. Michon singled in another run to make it 4-2, but that was all the Panthers could muster in the frame.
• Burk walked and Landers singled to start the fourth. After two flyouts, Colby worked a base on balls to load the bases, but a grounder ended the threat.
• KSC hit a couple of two-run homers in the bottom of the inning and added a run in the fifth for a 9-2 lead.
• Landers and Shaw opened the sixth with singles and a wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position. Both runs would score on RBI groundouts by Bryan and Colby.
• Michon doubled to start the seventh, eventually scoring on an RBI groundout from McCann, but Keene State recorded the final out to end the Panthers' season.

By the Numbers (Game Three):

• Michon (single, double), Landers (two singles) and Shaw (two singles) all hit two-hit games.
• Colby and Burke both went 1-for-3 with a single and a walk.
• Miller took the loss to end the year at 7-7.
• Plymouth State had been 5-0 against Keene this season.

 
Up Next:

• The loss marked the end of the season for the Panthers and the final game for Shaw, Miller, Landers and senior Bri Chase (Woodstock, N.H.).