KEENE, NH  – Junior Bryce Afthim (Windham, Maine) spun a complete game gem in game one and the University of Southern Maine Huskies combined for 27 hits (12 for extra bases) and 16 runs over two games to sweep the Keene State College Owls 6-0, 10-6 in a Little East Conference doubleheader Friday afternoon at the Owl Athletic Complex.
 
Afthiim fired his fourth complete game of the season and held the Keene State hitters to just three hits while striking out nine in game one.  Junior Clay Robbins (Auburn, Maine/Edward Little) earned the win in game two, pitching a solid 6.1 innings, while the Huskies' offensive pounded the Owl pitchers for 14 hits and 10 runs.
 
THE SERIES:
Today's games marked the 98^th and 99^th meeting between the University of Southern Maine and the Keene State College Owls. Southern Maine leads the overall series 70-27.  The Huskies have won the last eight consecutively. 
 
THE BASICS:
Game 1 - Records:
Southern Maine ( 13-17, 8-4 LEC)
Keene State (13-21, 3-9 LEC)
Score: Southern Maine 6, Keene State 0
 
Game – 2 Records: 
Southern Maine ( 14-17, 9-4 LEC)
Keene State (13-22, 3-10 LEC)
Score: Southern Maine 10, Keene State 6
 
Pitching – Southern Maine vs. KSC Game 1
Winning Pitcher: SM, Bryce Afthim (4-3), 9.0 IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 8 strikeouts
Losing Pitcher: KSC, David Flloyed (1-2), 7.2 IP, 11 hits, 6 runs (5 earned) 1 walk, 1 strikeout
 
Pitching – Southern Maine vs. KSC Game 2
Winning Pitcher: SM, Clay Robbins (5-2), 6.1 IP, 6 hits, 6 runs (4 earned), 1 walk, 7 strikeouts
Losing Pitcher: KSC, Jake Jachym (2-5), 5.1 IP, 10 hits, 6 runs (4 earned), 0 walks, 4 strikeouts
 
HOW IT HAPPENED vs. KSC Game 1:

• Afthim retired the first six Keene State batters he face and held the Owls to just three singles in a dominant pitching performance.
• With Afthim controlling the mound, the Huskies scored a run in the second and third inning before tacking on three more in the top of the fourth for an early 5-0 lead.
• USM senior Jason Komulainen (Gorham, Maine) led off the second with a double to right before crossing home plate on an RBI single from senior Brogan Searle-Belanger (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy).  The Huskies went up 2-0 in the third on an RBI double down the left field line from freshman Kyle Douin (Augusta, Maine/Cony).  Douin drove in senior Tom Vesosky (Colchester, N.H.) who led off the inning with a single to center field.
• The Huskies scored three runs on three hits in the fourth.  Junior Janek Luksza (South Paris, Maine/Oxford Hills) drove in the first run of the inning with a double to left before junior Cam Seymour (Saco, Maine/Thornton Academy) had a two-run single to right for a 5-0 Husky advantage.
• Afthim continued to dominate and did not allow a runner past second base the rest of the game.  He retired the Owls in order from the sixth inning on, sitting down 12 consecutive batters.  Afthim was lights out in the ninth, striking out the side to finish with eight strikeouts in the game.

 
HOW IT HAPPENED vs. KSC - Game 2:

• Douin had a two-run double as part of a four-run top of the first as the Huskies jumped on top of the Owls early in game two.  Komulainen followed Douin with a double of his own for an RBI, while senior Jonathan Wilson (East Granby, Conn.) had a single up the middle for the 4-0 Husky lead.
• Keene State made it 4-2 in the bottom of the second. E. Cali drove in the first run of the game for the Owls with an RBI single, while B. Eaton stole home for the second run.
• The Owls tied the game up, 4-4, in the bottom of the fifth. After getting the lead off out, USM starter Clay Robbins gave up a bunt single before T. Ahlers hit a two-run home run to center field.  Robbins settled after the home run and struck out the next two batters. 
• USM wasted little time retaking the lead, scoring twice in the top of the sixth, including an RBI sacrifice fly from Searle-Belanger, to lead 6-4.
• The Huskies made it 9-4 in the top of the seventh, scoring three runs. Seymour and Wilson each drew a walk to start the inning before sophomore Anthony Poole (South Portland, Maine) made it 8-4 with a two-run single.  The Huskies final run of the inning came on an Owl fielding error.
• KSC scored twice in the bottom of the inning making it 9-6 capitalizing on an error and a wild pitch, but the Huskies extend their lead in the top of the eight with a run for a 10-6 advantage. Komulainen reached on a one-out double before Seymour drove him in with a double to right.

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Of the Huskies' 13 hits in game one, six were for extra bases. Douin had a pair of doubles in the game.
• Afthim's complete game win in game one was his fourth complete game of the season. It was his first shutout of the season.  He has eight complete games in his career, and the win marked the 18^th of his career. He is tied for 15^th in career wins with Husky Hall of Famer Jason Jensen (1995-1997). His eight strikeouts give him 160 for his career and move him into the top ten.  The USM record for strikeouts in a career is 244 held by Dalton Rice (2016-2019).
• In game two, Southern Maine had six doubles, making six of its 14 hits for extra bases.  Douin again had two doubles for the Huskies. 
• Vesosky, Wilson and Poole each had a stolen base in game two. 
• Komulainen, Vesosky and Douin each finished the double header with five hits, going 5-for-10.  Komulainen and Douin each had three doubles, while Vesosky had two. 
• Luksza, Douin and Seymour each had three RBI, while Searle-Belanger and Poole had two RBI.

 
 
UP NEXT:
Southern Maine is slated to host MIT on Sunday (1:00 pm) in a non-conference game.  The Huskies return to Little East Conference action on Tuesday (4:30 pm) hosting Plymouth State University as part of Town of Gorham Day Celebration.  The Huskies defeated 13-2 (7 innings) earlier this season.
 
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