KEENE, N.H. 4/28/05 - Keene State College won a pair of one-run games (2-1 and 3-2) over Fitchburg State College in non-conference softball action at Owl Athletic Complex on Thursday.

Winners of six straight, Keene State improves to 26-6 while Fitchburg State falls to 13-19. In the opener, Melissa Scata (Medway, Mass.) provided all the offense for the Owls with a two-run home run, her team-leading seventh round-tripper of the season, in the first inning.

FSC got one run back in the third inning on a RBI single from Alyssa Freda (Leominster, Mass.).

Making her final regular-season appearance on the mound, senior Meghan McLoughlin (Brattleboro, Vt.) gave up one earned run, fanned six and walked two to go to 9-3. The Falcons had runners on first and second in the top of the seventh, but McLoughlin was able to retire the sides. Michelle Yuille (Acushnet, Mass.) (6-7), who struck out five and issued one walk, took the loss for FSC. Kristen Bissonnette (Springfield, Mass.) had two hits for the Falcons.

In the nightcap, Julia May (Deep River, Conn.) singled and came home on a passed ball to give KSC a 1-0 lead in the second. May gave KSC a pair of much-needed insurance runs in the fifth with a bloop single to left center that brought in two runs.

The Falcons cut the lead to one run on a fielder's choice and passed ball in the top of the sixth, before Ashlee Nicholson (Swanzey, N.H.), who came in for starter Erin Fuoroli (Warwick, R.I.) worked out of the jam. Nicholson, who notched her fifth save of the season, left two Falcon runners stranded in the seventh. Fuoroli had eight strikeouts and one walk to remain undefeated (6-0). Jenn Neslusan (Douglas, Mass.) (7-10), who walked five and gave up one walk, took the loss for FSC.

Sasha Richardson (Leominster, Mass.) had two of FSC's four hits.

KSC has won all eight games between the two teams.

The Owls travel to Southern Maine on Saturday for a key LEC doubleheader against the Huskies.