KEENE, N.H.—The 2024 season came to a close for the Keene State College softball team with a Little East Conference doubleheader against Plymouth State on Saturday. The Owls took the opener 4-3 before falling in the nightcap 4-1.
Records
- Keene State: 9-31, 3-13 LEC
- Plymouth State: 16-22, 5-11 LEC
Postgame Interview (Coach Fisk Hennessey)
How it Happened
Buoyed by a 3-for-3 effort from junior second baseman Molly Murray, the Owls never trailed in support of starter Carissa Miller.
The Owls opened the scoring in the third inning, as Emma Chenette beat out a bunt for a lead off single and moved to third on a double to left-center by Elyse Picard before coming around to score on a passed ball.
Liv Whittier then stroked a single to right-center to bring Picard around.
The Panthers loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the fourth, forcing home two runs on bases loaded walks, but Miller got out of further damage with an infield popup.
KSC went back in front for good in the bottom half of the inning, as Miller backed her own cause with a sacrifice fly to bring in Morgan Rodrigues, and Whittier knocked in another run with another sac fly.
Plymouth State pulled back within a run with another bases loaded walk in the seventh, but Lilah Demmy came on to strike out Kaity Montelong to earn her second save of the season.
Miller went 6.2 innings, throwing a herculean 152 pitches to earn her third win of the season.
Keene State never led in game two; a two-run error put the Panthers out in front in the opening frame.
Picard's RBI single to center plated Abbie Monkevicz in the second inning for the Owls' only run of the game. Plymouth State tacked on two more in the third inning.
Keene State had the tying run at the plate in the sixth inning with none out, but Panthers' starter McGrath got out of the jam when Rodrigues popped up to shortstop. Alyssa Wilson came on for the seventh and worked around a one-out double to Picard to earn the save.
Inside the Circle
- Picard ended her sterling freshman campaign on a seven game hit streak. She hit a team high .380 with 12 doubles, five triples, two homers, and 22 RBI, leading the team in all categories except home runs. She also led the team in walks (16), on-base percentage (.449), and OPS (1.061).
- Demmy notched her 220th career strikeout today; that places her 10th all-time, just ahead of Sara Stocklinski, who struck out 217 from 2010-12.
Up Next
The season is over for both teams. Neither squad qualified for the LEC Championships.
