'REDLANDS, CA. 3/22/03–  The Keene State College baseball team wrapped up its spring week trip to California by splitting a pair of games in Redland, Ca., on Saturday.  The Owls posted their first win of the season, 4-3 0ver Menlo College and later lost 12-2 to the University of Redlands.

Pat Austin (Wallingford, CT) picked up the win in the opener over Menlo College. The sophomore pitcher gave up three runs and five hits with five strikeouts and three walks in six innings.

James Slack (Manchester, N.H.) tossed three hitless innings to notch the save.

Tailing 2-0, the Owls tied the game in the bottom of the second inning.  With two outs Adam Whitney (Campton, N.H.) had a RBI double and Matt Orszulak (Campton, N.H.) delivered a run-scoring single.

Falling behind 3-2, KSC pulled ahead for good in the sixth inning on a RBI triple by Orszulak and a sacrifice fly by Nick Bujeaud (Lincoln, N.H.).

Mike MAeur (Warwick, R.I.), Whitney, and Orszulak each had two hits in the game.

Buzzy Francis (Bedford, N.H.) took the loss in the second game again the University of Redlands.  Francis (0-2) gave up four runs, but had eight strikeouts in his six innings on the mound.

Down 3-0, KSC got one run back in the fourth on a double by Justin Hickman (Mont Vernon, N.H.) and a RBI single by Travis Muckle. The Owls final round came in the 8th inning on a single by John Trubiano (Keene, N.H.) and a RBI double from Eric Kilburn (Keene, N.H.).

The Univ. of Redlands came back to score eight runs in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Keene State, which completed its spring week trip with a 1-9 record, will open up north with a game at Anna Maria College on Wednesday.