'WILLIAMSTOWN, MA - The Keene State College softball team
dropped a pair of non-conference games by the identical scores of
2-0 to Williams College ay Cole Field in Williamstown, Mass., on
Wednesday.
Williams senior Clara Hard pitched her way into the record books
in the second game, tossing a no-hitter at the Owls and in the
process becoming the all-time leader in victories at the school.
The wins ran Williams' win streak to 10 and improved their record
to 20-8 overall. The Owls saw their record fall to 20-8.
Keene State had just three hits on the day, all coming in the
first game. Sophomore Margaret Ryan pitched the complete game
three-hit shutout for the Ephs, walking only two and striking out
eight. The Owls best threat came in the top of the second when
Melissa Scata drew a lead-off walk, moved to second on a wild pitch
with two outs and advanced to third when Julia May grounded a
single to right field. But Ryan rallied to strike out Elizabeth
Mroczka to end the inning.
The Ephs only runs of the opener came in the bottom of the same
inning. Christine Williams singled and stole second. With two outs,
Knox hit a change-up from Keene State starter Ashlee Nicholson over
the left-field fence for a two-run home run.
Jenna Patnode, Scata and May had hits for Keene State. The Ephs
also had three hits, one each from Knox, Williams and Becky
Sansone.
Nicholson took the loss for Keene State, allowing three hits
over four innings while walking one and striking out six.
Nicholson and fellow Owl hurler Kari Gardner again limited the
Ephs to three hits in the nightcap, but two of those went for home
runs. In the second, Knox hit a laser off Gardner over the
center-field fence, and in the fourth, senior Alana Frost smacked a
long home run to left off Gardner.
But Hard was the story, allowing just one Owl baserunner all
game long, Scata, who reached on an error leading off the second.
After Scata moved to second on a passed ball, Hard responded by
striking out the next five Owls in a row. She retired the final 18
batters in a row, did not walk a batter and fanned 11.
(Courtesy Willliams Sports Information)
