KEENE, N.H. 4/10/04 - It was a historic Saturday at Owl Athletic
Complex as Meghan McLoughlin tossed a perfect game in Keene
State College's 2-0 opening game victory over Eastern Conn. State
University in a Little East Conference softball doubleheader in
Keene. The junior from Brattleboro, Vt., also came in to pick up
her fourth save of the season in KSC's 9-2 win in the second game.
McLoughlin struck out six of the seven batters she faced. Winners
of six straight, KSC improved 14-4 (3-1 LEC) with the sweep.
"I had no idea I was pitching a perfect game," said McLoughlin,
who finished the contest with seven strikeouts. "My location
was there, my riseball was moving, and my catcher Tiffany Underhill
called a great game.""It was a great feeling because everyone
contributed to the win," she added. "We had timely hitting
and great fielding behind me."
McLoughlin (4-1), who caught a pop up from Shari D'Amico for the
final out, tossed a no-hitter in the LEC Tournament against
Southern Maine last season.
"Meghan was on her game from the opening pitch," said KSC Coach
Charlie Beach. "As far as I know it's the program's first
perfect game.
The Owls got both of their runs in the first inning.
KSC scored a run on a pair of errors and Abby
Collis Wynantskill, N.Y.) doubled high off the right center fence
to score Caroline Kurkowski (Niskayuna, N.Y).
Lindsay Saville (Cheshire, Conn.) (8-3), who struck out eight
and didn't walk a batter, took the loss for the Warriors (11-11,
3-3 LEC).
In the second game, Jen Norman (Penacook, N.H.) went
four-for-four with a triple and three RBIs to lead KSC's 13 hit
attack. Kurkowski had a pair of doubles and two RBIs and
Sarah Campbell (Auburn, Mass.) had a couple of hits.
KSC led 4-0 into the fifth when ECSU got two runs back on a
sacrifice fly by Kelly Rowan (Watertown, Conn.) and an RBI single
from Kelly Carino (Greenwich, Conn.). Shari D'Amico (Trumbull,
Conn.) went three-for-four for ECSU. KSC picked up a couple
of insurance runs in the sixth on Kurkowski's two run double.
Norman added a two-run triple in the top of the seventh.
Erin Fouroli (Warwick, R.I.) pitched into the fifth inning to
notch her sixth win (6-0) of the season before giving way to
McLoughlin.
Saville (8-4) also took the loss on the mound in the second game
for ECSU.
