'GORHAM, Maine  – Sophomore pitcher Meghan McLoughlin (Brattleboro, Vt.) twirled a no-hitter to lift the visiting Keene State College Owls to a 3-0 upset over the University of Southern Maine Huskies in the opening round of the Little East Conference Tournament.

Keene State improved to 21-11, and will face number-one seed Western Connecticut in the double-elimination round of the tournament on Friday. Southern Maine, which fell to 23-12, will conclude regular-season play tomorrow afternoon when it hosts Bates.

After junior Caroline Kurkowski (Niskayuna, N.Y.) led off the bottom of the second with a single, freshman Abby Blanchette (Webster, N.H.) followed with a home run to give Keene State the lead for good. Junior Kerry Marsh (Meriden, N.H.) led off the third with a double, and later came home with an insurance run.

McLoughlin ensured the lead would stand by retiring the first 15 batters before allowing a pair of walks in the fifth inning. However, with two on and two outs, she forced Southern Maine sophomore Emily Forbes (North Berwick, Maine) to hit a routine fly to center. McLoughlin proceed to retire the Huskies in order in each the sixth and seventh innings.

Southern Maine sophomore Melissa Henderson (Newburyport, Mass.), who was charged with the loss, worked 3.1 innings and surrendered two earned runs, before yielding to freshman Katie Mainville (Coopers Mills, Maine).