MANSFIELD, Conn. – The Plymouth State University softball team built a four-run lead through six innings and escaped a seventh-inning jam when freshman lefty Caitlyn Miller stranded the tying run on first by retiring three straight batters as the Panthers completed their first road sweep of Eastern Connecticut State University in the 34-year rivalry with a 6-5 Little East Conference victory Saturday afternoon at the Eastern Softball Stadium.

In the first game, Miller tossed a complete-game seven-hitter and Plymouth (14-12, 3-3 LEC) scored two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning in a 4-2 victory that ended a five-game overall losing streak for the Panthers at the hands of Eastern (7-17, 3-3 LEC).

Eastern, which has lost five straight since defeating No. 19 nationally-ranked Springfield College three days ago, commited seven errors against Plymouth that led to three unearned runs.

In the second game, Plymouth erased a one-run deficit by scoring twice in the fifth on sophomore centerfielder Cassidy Emerson's RBI double and sophomore third baseman Mel Goss' RBI single, and moved out to a 6-1 lead with three more in the sixth (two of them unearned) on two hits, two walks, a hit batter, stolen base and error. Emerson's third RBI of the game – a single – drove in one of the runs.

Down by four runs in the second game, the Warriors got three back when the first four batters reached safely, with senior infielder Gina Georgetti (Milford) driving in a run with a double and senior DP Kristyn Ryan (Barkhamsted) bringing in two more with her third home run of the season.  Miller entered at that point, and after senior leftfielder Rebecca DeFeo (Richmond, RI) reached safely on an infield single, Miller retired the side on an infield pop, strikeout and infield ground ball for her second save.

Miller walked four without a strikeout en route to her eighth win in ten decisions in the first game as the Warriors stranded ten. Two singles, two errors and a sacrifice fly put the Panthers in front in the second inning before the Warriors got one back in the bottom of the inning on senior pitcher Samantha Valentine's (Ridge, NY) RBI single. Plymouth added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh on an opening walk, junior DP Abrie Davis' RBI double and a wild pitch. Eastern got one back in the bottom of the inning on Ryan's two-out RBI single, but Miller got a game-ending ground ball to short.

Davis and Emerson each had three hits – including a double – on the day, with sophomore leftfielder Lindsey Hall scoring three times with two hits for Plymouth, which played perfect defense.

Valentine, Georgetti and Ryan all collected four hits for Eastern, with freshman shortstop Sara Pisanelli (Wallingford) reaching five times with three hits and two walks. Valentine stroked her first career home run – a two-out solo shot – in the second inning of the first game that tied the game at 1-all.

Eastern hosts UMass Dartmouth Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in a Little East doubleheader at 3:30 p.m.