BABSON PARK, Mass. - In the second game of the 2005 NCAA Division III Softball Tournament New England Regional, third-seeded Keene State College fended off sixth-seeded UMaine-Farmington, 3-1, at Babson College on Friday afternoon. Keene State (32-6) will now play second-seeded Babson College at 4 p.m. today, while UMaine-Farmington (19-13) will face an opponent to be determined at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

The contest remained scoreless through the first three innings, as Keene State first-year starter Ashlee Nicholson (Swanzey, N.H.) and UMaine-Farmington sophomore starter Stephanie Moriarty (Sandwich, Mass.) held their respective opponents in check. Keene State finally broke through against Moriarty in the bottom of the fourth, as first-year Melissa Scata (Medway, Mass.) led off with a double. Sophomore pinch-runner Julie McLaurin (Amherst, N.H.) then advanced to third on a bunt single by first-year Kaity Conklin (Selkirk, N.Y.) and scored on a perfectly executed squeeze play by sophomore Kari Gardner (Grafton, Mass.).

UMaine-Farmington came right back to tie the game with an unearned run in the top of the fifth, when junior Brandi Rideout (Mattawamkeag, Maine) singled up the middle, moved to second on a passed ball, and eventually scored on an RBI-single to led by first-year Kelly McDonough (Windham, Maine). However, Keene State regained the lead in the bottom of the inning, as junior Sarah Campbell (Auburn, Mass.) and senior Jennifer Norman (Penacook, N.H.) hit back-to-back doubles with one out. The Owls then tacked on an insurance run on a sacrifice fly to right by Scata, increasing their advantage to 3-1.

Nicholson finally ran into trouble in the top of the seventh, as senior Cynthia Ravinski (Norton, Mass.) led off with a single. Senior pitcher Meghan McLoughlin (Brattleboro, Vt.) then came on in relief of Nicholson and immediately induced a routine grounder to first off the bat of Rideout, but an errant throw to second put runners on second and third with nobody out. However, McLoughlin came back to strike out the next three batters, clinching the 3-1 victory.

Nicholson (9-2) picked up the win after allowing one unearned run on five hits to go along with nine strike outs in six innings, while McLoughlin notched her first save with a scoreless seventh. Moriarty (13-6) pitched well in defeat, giving up three runs on seven hits. Campbell and Norman each posted two hits for Keene State, while McDonough had a pair of hits for UMaine-Farmington.

(Courtesy of Babson Sports Information)