'KEENE, N.H. 4/23/02  –  Sophomore pitcher Jim Slack (Manchester, N.H.) scattered 10 hits and struck out eight to lead the Keene State College baseball team to a 3-1 Little East Conference victory over rival Plymouth State College on Wednesday in Keene.

With the victory, KSC (9-15, 4-4 LEC) avenges a tough 4-3 loss to PSC (12-14, 2-6 LEC) earlier this season when the Panthers scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The Owls took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second when Eric Kilburn (Keene, N.H) opened the inning with a double and scored on a sacrifice fly by Mike MAeur (Warwick, R.I.).

The Panthers tied the game in the fourth when Slack walked Derek Guilmond (Lewiston, Me.) with the bases loaded. Jay Zinis (Manchester, NH) who reached on an error came home to score.

KSC took the lead for good in the fifth when MAeur advanced to third on a misplayed ball in the outfield and scored on a Tim Kendrick's (Middletown, R.I) sacrifice fly. The Owls added an insurance run in the eighth on Justin Hickman's (Mont Vernon, N.H.) RBI double to right.

Kilburn had two hits for KSC. Zinis and Matt Salokangas (New Ipswich, N.H.) had a pair of hits each for the Panthers.

Slack, who pitched into the eighth inning notch his first win of the season (1-3).  Pat Austin (Wallingford, CT) came in to pick up the save.  Josh Forest (Manchester, N.H.) was the complete game loser for PSC. He is now 2-2.

Keene State hosts Westfield State on Thursday (3:30 p.m.).

PSC returns home to face R.I. College on Saturday (12 p.m.).