'Boston, MA 4/25/06--The Keene State College softball team swept a Little East Conference doubleheader against UMass-Boston on Tuesday. Melissa Scata had a two-run home run and Ashlee Nicholson pitched a two hitter over five innings in the Owls' 9-0 opening game win.  Kari Gardner and Erin Fuoroli combined for a five-inning 8-0 no-hitter in the second game.

Keene State (24-8, 9-1 LEC) remains on top of the LEC standings while Umass-Boston, coached by former Owl soccer player Amy Zombeck, falls to 10-23-1 (0-12 LEC).

In the first game, Scata's two run blast, her 11th of the season put KSC ahead 2-0 after the first inning.  The Owls added two more runs in the third on Julia May's RBI double.  KSC plated three more runs in the fourth and ended the game with two more runs in the sixth.

Sarah Campbell and Scata finished the game with two hits each.

Nicholson struck out nine and didn't issue a walk to improve her record to 10-5. Fuoroli pitched the sixth inning.

In the nightcap, the Owls scored all the runs they would need with a five run second inning.  Campbell, Scata, and Kaity Conklin had run-producing hits in the inning.

Jessica Starkey, Amanda Foote, and Campbell had two hits each in the game.

Gardner gave up just one walk in her four innings in the circle to pick up the win (4-1.).  Fuoroli pitched a perfect fifth ining.

Keene State travels to R.I. College on Thursday for a key LEC doubleheader. (3:30 p.m.).