MILTON, MASS. 5/21/05 - The sixth seeded Keene State College baseball team saw its season come to and end with a tough 5-3 loss in 11 innings to seventh seed Babson College in the semifinals of the ECAC Division III New England Tournament played in Milton, Mass. on Saturday.

The Owls conclude their season with a 23-16 mark, one win shy of the program record of 24 set in 1999.

The Owls took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second on a RBI single to left by Matt Orszulak (Campton, N.H.). After Babson went ahead 2-1, KSC tied the game in the bottom of the sixth when Nick Arroyo (Northridge, CA) opened the inning with a double and scored on Joe Rousseau's (Nashua, N.H.) infield hit. The Owls took the lead in the next inning (3-2) on an RBI double from Pat Austin (Wallingford, Conn.). The Beavers sent the game into extra innings with a run in the top of the ninth. Robbie Leer singled, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on Jay Verrill's single.

KSC left two runners on base in the bottom of the inning.

Babson won the game in the 11th inning on a two-run single by Verrill.

Orszulak had three singles and Austin finished with two hits for KSC.

Jon Young (Rindge, N.H.) pitched 10 innings for the Owls, giving up two earned runs, scattering eight hits, fanning six, and walking one batter. Greg Ford, (Nashua, N.H.) (1-1) who came on to pitch in the 11th took the loss.

Babson (22-18) advances to the ECAC finals where it will face Endicott College later in the day at Bridgewater State.

It was the first meeting on the diamond between KSC and Babson. The Owls were making their first post-season appearance since 1996.