'FT. MYERS, FLA. 3/17/02 - The Keene State College softball team opened up its 2002 season by winning two games on Sunday in Fort Myers, Florida.  The Owls defeated St. Lawrence University 3-1 and followed that up with a 4-2 win over North Central (Ill.) College in their second game.

KSC took a 1-0 lead in its first game on a RBI single by Melissa Provost (Ludlow, MA.).  After St, Lawrence tied the game with a run in the bottom of the inning, the Owls went ahead 2-1 in the third when Caroline Kurkowski (Niskayuna, NY), who had two hits in the game, knocked in Shauna Mullen (Hooksett, NH) with a double.

Keene State added an insurance run in the sixth inning when Stacey Parr (Cheshire, CT), pinch-running for Adria Reynolds (Portsmouth, NH) (who had doubled), came around to score on an infield out.

Starter Katie Thompson (Stratham, NH) scattered seven hits and had five strikeouts and one walk in her five innings on the mound to pick up her first win of the season.  Melissa Zimmerman (Leyden, MA.) pitched the final two innings to notch the save.

Trailing 2-1 after three innings, the Owls plated three runs in the fourth inning to post the come-from-behind win against North Central.  KSC had five hits in the inning including a RBI double by Kerry Marsh (Plainfield, NH), and a run scoring triple by Nikki Foote (Hudson, NH).  Foote's shot to centerfield hit the top of the fence and just missed being a home run.  Freshman Jennifer Norman also had a sacrifice fly in the inning.

KSC Coach Charlie Beach used three pitchers in the game.  Stephanie Carter (Cohoes, NY), who was making her first career start for KSC, pitched four innings (six hits, 1 strikeout, and 2 walks) got credit for the win.  Jennifer Smith (Salem, NH) (four hits, 1 strikeout and 1 walk) pitched two innings.  Coming in with two runners on and one out in the seventh, Zimmerman got a pop out and a ground out to notch her second save of the day.

"It was a nice start to the trip," said Beach, who was also pleased with his team's defense that made just one error in the two games.  "Everyone did something to make a contribution."

"Carolyn (Kurkowski) had a great day at the plate, and we banged the ball around pretty good," he added.

 Keene State is scheduled to play Smith College (11 a.m.) and Pine Manor College (1 p.m.) on Monday.