KEENE, N.H. – Heather Gilman had four hits, including a three-run homer, and the University of Southern Maine upset Plymouth State 6-2 Thursday in the first round of the Little East Conference softball tournament.

The second-seeded Owls (23-13-1) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an RBI double by Samantha Pratt, but Gilman put the fifth-seeded Huskies (13-28) ahead in the third with her fourth home run of the year.

USM added three runs in the fifth on RBI singles by Katie Davis and Sarah Deroche and an error.

Deroche pitched a seven-hitter with a walk and five strikeouts.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

USM 10, KEENE STATE 8: Jessica Martineau scored three goals in the final 20 minutes to help the fifth-seeded Huskies (10-9) stun top-seeded Keene State (12-5) in a Little East semifinal at Keene, N.H.

The Huskies will play for the league title Saturday at No. 3 Eastern Connecticut State, which defeated second-seeded Plymouth State 11-10 in overtime.

The Huskies trailed 8-5 early in the second half before Mary Vaughan scored an unassisted goal. Martineau scored less than two minutes later with an assist from Alison Bradley, then got the tying goal, assisted by Vaughan.

Martineau’s unassisted goal gave the Huskies the lead with 5:32 left, and Jessica Knight got her third goal of the game with 3 seconds remaining.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

RUTGERS: Former Robert Morris coach Mike Rice was introduced as the Scarlet Knights’ new coach.

Athletic Director Tim Pernetti said Rice was given a five-year contract with an average salary of $650,000.

Rice led Robert Morris to two straight NCAA tournament appearances. Rutgers has not made the NCAA tournament since 1991.

 

BUTLER: Gordon Hayward, a 6-foot-9 sophomore forward, confirmed that we will remain in the NBA draft, giving up his final two years of college eligibility.

Most analysts projected Hayward to go somewhere between No. 10 and 20 when he declared last month.