'POMONA, CA.  3/16/03 – After being rained out Saturday from the biggest storm in the area since 1951 that dropped three and a half inches of rain, the Keene State College baseball team opened up its Spring Week trip in California with a pair of losses on Sunday. 

The Owls mustered just seven hits all afternoon in a 6-1 loss to Ithaca College, a NCAA regional finalists last year, and 9-0 to pre-season top 10 Pomona-Pitzer.

Starting pitcher Buzzy Francis (Bedford, N.H.), who gave up six earned runs, seven hits with no strikeouts and two walks, took the loss in the first game for KSC.

Mike MAeur (Warwick, R.I.) broke up the no hitter with a solid single in the fifth inning.  KSC got its only run in the sixth on a RBI single from John Trubiano.

The Owls, who had four hits in the game, lost the services of starting second baseman Ben Tyre. The senior was hit-by-a-pitch in his first two at bats.  The second one hit his wrist and caused swelling.  It is uncertain when he will play again.

Keene State collected just three hits in the second game; singles by Patrick Austin (Wallingford, CT), Justin Hickman (Mont Vernon, N.H.) and MAeur.

Jim Slack (Manchester, N.H.) struggled in his first appearance of the season. He gave up five earned runs, five hits and had five strikeouts and two walks in three-plus innings of work.

"We're struggling right now with the bats," said KSC coach Ken Howe, who plans on having a lengthy round of batting practice prior to Monday's doubleheader against Whittier College. "I'm just looking for continued improvement during the week."

"We knew we would be going up against some good teams out here," he added.

Instead of an off day on Monday, KSC will make-up Saturday's twin bill against Whittier College.

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