NORTH DARTMOUTH, MASS. 4/23/05 - Keene State pitchers were the story in a Little East Conference softball sweep (1-0 and 3-0) over UMass-Dartmouth on Saturday.

Senior Meghan McLoughlin (Brattleboro, Vt.) tossed a three-hitter in the opener and freshman Ashlee Nicholson (Swanzey, N.H.) pitched a perfect game in the nightcap. Nicholson, who fanned 10 batters, improved her record to 6-2.

"In the fifth inning I realized that no one had reached base, so I just knocked on wood, said Nicholson, who pitched a perfect game with 21 strikeouts as a junior at Monadnock High School. "I had good success with a new outside pitch and my teammates made some great plays behind me."

Nicholson becomes the second pitcher in as many years to toss a perfect game for KSC. McLoughlin pitched the program's first perfect game last season against Eastern Conn.

Nicholson, who had two hits in the game, helped herself at the plate with an RBI single in the third inning. Katy Conklin (Selkirk, N.Y.) followed with a RBI double. She also had two hits in the game.

McLoughlin struck out four and walked two to improve her record to 7-3 in the opener. KSC scored the only run of the game in the sixth inning. Conklin, who was hit by a pitch, moved to second on a sacrifice by Kari Gardner (Grafton, Mass.) and came home on a throwing error. Emily Crompton (Concord, N.H.) went three-for-three and Gardner and Conklin had two each for KSC (22-6, 6-4 LEC).

Michelle Fenton (Dartmouth, Mass.) took the loss in both games for the Corsairs (9-14, 4-6 LEC).

Keene State hosts UMass-Boston in a LEC doubleheader on Tuesday (3:30 p.m.).