KEENE, N.H. - Lauren Merrill and Belle Snyder combined to allow just one run over 14 innings with 18 strikeouts as the University of Southern Maine spoiled Senior Day for the Keene State College softball team by sweeping a doubleheader by scores of 8-0 and 6-1 on a busy spring Saturday afternoon at Owl Athletic Complex.

Records

• Keene State:  12-22, 2-12 LEC
• Southern Maine:  16-13, 7-3 LEC

How It Happened – Game One
Keene State was limited to three hits in the opener and allowed five unearned runs as they dropped their fifth straight, seeing Southern Maine turn what was a 1-0 game into an 8-0 win after they scored seven times over the final two innings.  The Huskies' Merrill tossed a complete game three-hitter on 98 pitches, striking out five while also inducing a remarkable 14 ground ball outs and just one fly out.  She faced just 24 batters.  USM cracked the scoreboard first when they scored an unearned run in the third after a miscue on Lauren Leidemann-Smith's bouncer to second that should have ended the inning but instead resulted in a run.  That wound up being a theme of the day, as 11 of the Huskies' 14 runs overall ended up being unearned to the Owls' pitching staff as defensively they made seven errors.

The other storyline was Merrill and Snyder (Game 2) in the circle, as KSC could get very little going offensively.  What chances they did generate were quickly snuffed out, including in the bottom of the fifth inning when Carissa Miller reached on a miscue with two outs and then moved into scoring position as the tying run in a 1-0 game, but a strikeout ended the inning.  An error, walk, and fielder's choice on a sacrifice bunt where KSC was unable to get anyone out on the play put the Owls in immediate trouble in the sixth, and the Huskies plated all three of those runners to blow the game open.  The first came across on Kaitlyn Nelson's grounder to second before Leidemann-Smith lined a single down the left field line to make it 4-0.  Hannah Shields' homer and three unearned runs widened the gap to 8-0 in the seventh.

Sara Cote singled twice in a 2-for-3 effort while Megan Blanchette doubled in the seventh, but that was the extent of Keene State's offense.

Merrill improved to 8-5 in the circle and also drove in a pair of runs.  USM outhit the Owls 12-3, and got multi-hit games from Lauren Miller (3-4, 2 R), Leidemann-Smith (2-3, 3 RBI, 2 BB), and Shields (2-4, HR, RBI, R).

Alexis Blanchette (0-5) took the loss despite not allowing an earned run (one overall) in three innings.

How It Happened – Game Two
The script did not change much in the nightcap, as Southern Maine wrapped up their second conference sweep of the season (Rhode Island College at home) behind the arm of Snyder and two big innings, both of which were aided by Owl errors.  Even without the miscues, the Huskies' starter was dominant, striking out 13 while going the distance on 132 pitches.  Keene State never had multiple runners on at the same time and was limited to just three hits for the second consecutive game.  The Owls did hang around thanks to Mia Ferry, who allowed only two unearned runs in a four-inning effort that marked her fourth start in the circle this season while also homering at the plate in the second to make it a 2-1 game. However, that ultimately proved to be the only time KSC scored against Snyder (7-4), who struck out five consecutive batters after the long ball and retired nine in a row overall.

Ferry and Lilah Demmy were matching zeroes for the most part to keep the Owls right there with a chance to perhaps steal a game on Senior Day despite Snyder's outing, but those hopes were dashed after KSC made two errors and allowed four unearned runs in the seventh, including a rare two-run sacrifice fly.

Cote extended her hitting streak to four games and raised her batting average to .411 after going 1-for-3.  Meaghan Moran doubled and also went 1-for-3 in addition to Ferry's home run, but KSC was limited to one run or fewer in a game for the 15th time this season.

Ferry (0-1) was charged with the loss in the circle, allowing two unearned runs and four hits in four innings.  All six Southern Maine runs were unearned.

Around the Horn

• Cote continues to move up the conference batting average leaderboard, now in fifth at .411.
• A series KSC leads 37-29 has turned decidedly against the Owls in recent years, as they have lost six straight and eight of nine against the Huskies.  USM has won four straight and five of six in Keene, the last four by an aggregate score of 34-7.
• The pair of losses eliminated the Owls from Little East tournament contention.
• Between games, KSC honored Moran, Alexis Blanchette, Faith Barbieri, and Kylie Frank for their contributions to the program.

Up Next

• The Owls wrap up their 2022 home schedule with a non-conference twinbill against Amherst College (18-7, 6-3 NESCAC) on Wednesday, April 27 at 3:30 p.m.
• Southern Maine has a quick turnaround, traveling to Western Connecticut State University (14-18, 2-10 LEC) for a pair of league games tomorrow (Sunday, April 24) that begin at 1:00 p.m.