KSC Baseball Rallies to Defeat Plymouth State

PLYMOUTH, N.H. 04/06/05 - Junior Josh Watkins (Keene, N.H.) hit a two-run home run to highlight a four-run sixth inning for Keene State College Wednesday afternoon, and the Owls went on to defeat Plymouth State University, 9-6, in a Little East Conference baseball game at Panther Park.

The Owls, playing their first conference game of the year, overcame an early 3-0 deficit to pull out the win and improve to 10-5 overall. The Panthers dropped their sixth straight and fell to 3-10 overall and 0-3 in the LEC.

PSU took a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Key hits in the rally included an RBI single by sophomore Jamie Aceto (Cumberland, R.I.) and a run-scoring double by junior Scott Begalle (Rumney, N.H.)

The Owls battled back with single runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings before taking the lead for good (7-3) in the sixth. Following Watkins' two-run homer in the sixth, senior Mike Masseur (Warwick, R.I.) doubled, classmate Matt Orszulak (Campton, N.H.) walked, and both came around to score on a double by freshman Ryan Jones (Nashua, N.H.)

PSU rallied with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull to within a run (7-6), as sophomore Trevor Hall (New Boston, N.H.) had an RBI single and junior C.J. Rousseau (Merrimack, N.H.) delivered a key, two-out, two-run single.

KSC added clutch insurance runs in the top of the ninth on a two-run homer by junior Nick Arroyo (Northridge, Cal.)

Owl starter Ryan Kohler (Alstead, N.H.) improved to 2-0 on the season, allowing four hits and three runs (two earned) in six innings. Freshman Greg Ford (Nashua, N.H.) got the final three outs for his fifth save. Freshman Ryan Lavelle (Middleboro, Mass.) took the loss for PSU, falling to 0-2.

PSU is home again Thursday with a non-conference game against Becker College (3:30 p.m.) KSC plays again Thursday at Mass. College of Liberal Arts (3:30 p.m.).

(courtesy of Plymouth State Sports Information)