PROVIDENCE, R.I. 3/31/07 - The Keene State College baseball team opened up its Little East Conference schedule by splitting a doubleheader against Rhode Island College at Anchormen Field in Providence on Saturday.

Rick Stromgren (Keene, N.H.) pitched seven strong innings giving up a run, scattering seven hits and striking out three leading the Owls to an 8-1 victory in the first game.  The Owls couldn't hold a three run lead in an 8-3 setback in the second game.

The Owls spread out their offense in the opener scoring single runs in the second and third innings.  Buck Merrill (Colchester, Conn.) had a RBI single in the second and Ryan Jones (Nashua, N.H.), who singled, came around to score on one of three RIC errors in the third.

James Chevalier (Amherst, N.H.) had an RBI singles in the fourth and sixth innings as KSC went up 5-1.  Beau Darak (Londonderry, N.H.) had an RBI triple and John Grainger had a runs scoring hits in the seventh and ninth innings for KSC which finished the game with 11 hits.

Keene State offense continued to be productive in the first inning of the second game.  The Owls went up 2-0 on RBIs singles from Grainger and Joe Rousseau (Nashua, N.H.).  KSC added one more run in the fourth on a RBI single by Jeff Perkins (Dunbarton, N.H.) to go up 3-0. 
Perkins, Rousseau, and Chevalier had two hits each in the Owls' 11-hit attack in the nightcap.

The Anchormen scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth and sixth to take a 6-3 lead.  Freshman Ben Sonberg (Bow, N.H.) who took over for starter Jon Young (Ridge, N.H.) in the fourth inning, took the loss for the Owls. His record goes to 1-1.  Mike Cook (Dover, Mass.) and Mike Riley (East Hartford, Conn.) also saw time on the mound for the Owls (11-7, 1-1 LEC).

RIC (8-5, 1-1 LEC) made its hits count in the game scoring eight runs on just four hits.

On Sunday, Keene State plays a non-conference game against Castleton State at Mill River Union High School in North Clarendon, Vt. (1 p.m.).