'CHESTNUT HILL, MASS.  4/10/07 - Keene State College improved its record to 13-1 with a doubleheader sweep 3-2 and 8-0 over Pine Manor College in non-conference softball action at Chestnut Hill, Mass., on Tuesday.

In the first game, KSC took a 1-0 lead in the fifth inning on a two out RBI single by Jenna Patnode (Surry, N.H.).  The Owls added two more runs in the sixth on a two-run home run, her second of the season, by Kaity Conklin (Selkirk, N.Y.). 

Pine Manor scored both of their runs on solo home runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Ashlee Nicholson (Swanzey, N.H.) came on to pick up her third save of the season by striking out four batters to end the game.  Owl starter Erin Fuoroli (Warwick, R.I.) struck out a career high 11 batters to improve her record to 6-1.  She gave up two runs on four hits with one walk in her 5 2/3 innings of work in the circle.

Nicholson tossed a four-hitter over six innings to record the win in the second game.  The junior pitcher fanned six and didn't allow a walk to improve her record to 5-0. 

Nicholson got plenty support at the plate with a 10 hit attack.  KSC scored single runs in the second and third innings.  MJ Hancock (Gardner, Mass.) had an RBI single in the second, and Patnode came around to score in the third after hitting a triple. The Owls broke open the game with a four run fourth inning highlighted by a two run home run by Colleen Ferguson.  Ferguson finished the game with two hits.  KSC added two more runs in the sixth. 

Coached by former Owl player Erin Van Nostrand, Pine Manor falls to 12-10.

Winners of 11 straight, KSC remains on the road with a doubleheader against Westfield State on Wednesday (3 p.m.).