'KEENE, N.H. 04/1/06 - The Keene State College softball team opened up its Little East Conference schedule by sweeping Western Conn. State University 6-3 and 3-2 at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday.

The Owls improve to 10-3 (2-0 LEC) while WCSU falls to 6-8 (0-2 LEC).

In the opener, Ashlee Nicholson (Swanzey, N.H.) tossed a complete game six-hitter and Melissa Scatta (Medway, Mass.) broke a three-all tie with a three run home run to centerfield in the bottom of the fifth to lift the Owls to the win.

KSC fell behind 2-0 in the second on a two-run triple by Julia Wullen (Bergenfield, N.H.).  The Owls cut the lead in half in the third on solo home run from Amanda Foote (Hudson, N.H.).  In the top of the fourth, Loren Angiolillo (Wolcott, Conn.) put the Colonials up 3-1 with a home run.

The Owls answered with a run in the fourth on Nicholson's RBI double.  In the deciding fifth, KSC tied the game at three-all when Kathleen Gambino (Freeport, N.Y.) scored on an error.  With two outs, Jessica Starkey (Keene, N.H.) walked and Sarah Campbell (Auburn, Mass.) reached on an error setting the stage for Scata's blast.

Nicholson, who fanned four and didn't allow a walk to improves to 4-2.  WCSU Shelby Slie (Seymour, Conn.), who finished with five strikeouts and two walks took the loss (3-4).

In the second game, KSC scored all its runs in the fifth inning and held for the win.  Kaity Conklin (Selkirk, N.Y.) had key two-run triple in the inning.

The Colonials in the top seventh scoring a run on RBI hits by Angiolillo and Kelley Larsen (Monroe, Conn.).  Nicholson, in relief of starter Erin Fuoroli (Warwick, R.I.) induced a final ground out with runners on second and third.

Fuoroli who was perfect through the first 4 1/3 innings, struck out two and didn't allow a walk to improve to 4-1.  Nicholson earned her third save.  Cortney Romyns (Newton, N.J.) took the loss for the Colonials. She fanned six and walked three batters in her four and 2/3 innings of work.

"This was our fist game in two weeks," said KSC Coach Charlie Beach.  "It's to the players credit that they came out and played a couple of solid games."

KSC travels to Springfield on Sunday.  WCSU hosts Westfield State on Tuesday.