'KEENE, N.H. 5/10/06 - Ashlee Nicholson (Swanzey, N.H.) tossed a two-hitter and Melissa Scata (Medway, Mass.) and Kaity Conklin (Selkirk, N.Y). belted homeruns to lead second seed Keene State College to a six-inning 8-0 victory over seventh seed Curry College in a first-round game of the ECAC Division III New England tournament played at Owl Athletic Complex on Wednesday.

Keene State got all the runs it would need with a three run first inning.  With two outs, Scata and Conklin hit back-to-back homeruns. Scata had a two-run blast, her team-leading 12th of the season, and Conklin followed with a solo shot, her fifth of the year. Scata's two RBIs tied the KSC season record (41) set by Beth Ponte in 1999.

In the third, Jessica Starkey (Keene, N.H.) scored on a wild pitch and Julia May (Deep River. Conn.) delivered a two-run single to put KSC up 6-0.

In the fourth, Jenna Patnode (Swanzey, N.H.) doubled, stole third, and came home on an error. The game ended in the sixth when Patonde scored on a bloop single off the bat of Emily Crompton (Concord, N.H.).

Sarah Campbell (Auburn, Mass.) and Nicholson had two hits each for KSC.

Lauren Tobey (Lynn, Mass.) had the Colonels only hits, singles in the third and fifth innings.

Nicholson struck out four and walled one to improve her record to 12-6.  It was her fourth shutout of the season.

Kimberly Sturgis (Saugus, Mass.), who fanned four and walked two, took the loss for Curry.  She is 18-12.

KSC's two victories over Curry both came in opening round games of the ECAC tournament.  The Owls shutout the Colonels 2-0 in the first round of the 2004 tourney.

Keene State, which will host the final rounds of the tournament on Saturday and Sunday, will play the winner between New England College/Suffolk game on Saturday at noon.  Game times for Saturday are 10 am, 12 pm, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.