FORT MEYERS, FLA.  3/16/04  - For the second day in a row the Keene State College softball team had to go into extra innings to secure a wild come-from-behind 9-8 win over New England College at Fort Myers, Fla., on Tuesday.

A three-run home run by Caroline Kurkowski (Niskayuna, N.Y.) in the first inning, her third round-tripper of the spring, helped the Owls jump out to a 4-0 lead. 

After NEC (0-5) scored three run in the seventh to take a 5-4 lead, KSC tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Kurkowski tripled and came home on a single by Abby Collis (Wynantskill, N.Y.).

The Pilgrims scored three more runs in the eighth to go up 8-5.  However, KSC came right back to tie the game again.  With Sarah Campbell (Auburn, Mass.) and Amanda Foote (Hudson, N.H.) on base, freshman Kathleen Gambino (Freeport, N.Y.) delivered her first college home run, a three-run shot, to knot the score at 8-8.

Later in the inning, Jennifer Norman (Penacook, N.H.), who reached base on an error, scored all the way from first on a throwing error following a bunt attempt by Adria Reynolds (Portsmouth, N.H.) to give KSC the win.
Gambino, Norman, and Kurkowski had two hits each for KSC (4-1).

Taking over from Erin Fuoroli (Warwick, R.I.), who pitched the first 8 2/3 innings, Jennifer Smith (Salem, N.H.) picked up the win in relief.

KSC's second game against Wesleyan University was washed out.  It could be made up tomorrow night, a scheduled off day for the Owls.