'FT. MYERS, FLA. 3/18/02 - The Keene State College softball team split its two games in Florida on Monday, losing 5-1 to Smith College, and coming back to edge Pine Manor College of Chestnut Hill, MA. 6-5 in their second game.

The Owls committed four errors in the opener. Keene State's only run came in the fourth inning on a solo home run by Shauna Mullen (Hooksett, NH) that cut KSC's deficit to 2-1. 

Smith College got two runs back in the fifth on a misplayed fly ball in the outfield and added a single run in the sixth, which also resulted from an error.

Making her first start for the Owls, Meghan McLoughlin (Brattleboro, Vt.) didn't get much support in the field.  She pitched well, giving up just three hits with two strikeouts and three walks.  None of Smith College's runs were earned. 

Mullen went 2-for-4 for KSC, which had seven hits in the game.

Keene State jumped out to a 5-0 lead against Pine Manor College.  Adria Reynolds (Portsmouth, NH) had an RBI single in the first, Caroline Kurkowski (Niskayuna, N.Y.) brought home two runs with a single in the second, and Jan Rissacher (Voorheesville, N.Y.) added a run-producing hit in the third.

After pitching three perfect innings, Missy Zimmerman (Leyden, MA.) ran into trouble in the fourth.  Three hits, a couple of walks, and a drop fly ball by the centerfielder that let in two runs made it a 5-4 ball game. 

Pine Manor tied the game with a run in the fifth inning.  KSC got the game winning run in the sixth.  Rissacher opened the inning with a double and was sacrificed to third. She came home on a RBI single by Mullen.

Katie Thompson (Stratham, N.H.) didn't allow a hit over the last two innings to pick up the save. Rissacher and Jennifer Norman (Penacook, NH) each had two hits in the Owls' nine hit attack in the game.

"We were our own worst enemy in the first game, and got lackadaisical after getting ahead in the second one, " said KSC Coach Charlie Beach. "I talked to the players after the games and I think it was a good learning experience for them."

 Keene State (3-1) plays SUNY Brockport and Trinity (CT) College on Tuesday.