'NORTON, MASS  . 5/9/03 –Marci Bruder pitched fourth seed Western New England College to an opening game 1-0 victory over Keene State in the NCAA New England Division III Softball Tournament played in Norton, Mass., on Friday.

The turning point of the game came in the sixth inning when the Owls loaded the bases with no outs and didn't  score.  Western New England had runners on second and third and did score the game's only run. 

After leading the bases in the sixth, Bruder got Jenn Norman on a soft liner to short, bringing up Shauna Mullen, who lined out to WNEC third baseman Becky McHugh who touched third base for the inning ending double play. 

 The Golden Bears pushed across the only run on a flare to right center by Erin Whitcomb.  

KSC starter Meghan McLoughlin (7-4)  gave up just three hits and struck out five in her five innings on the mound.  Bruder went the distance for the Golden bears and fanned nine Owl batters.

The fifth seeded Owls (25-13) will return to play Endicott College on Saturday in the double-elimination tournament.