'KEENE, N.H.  4/26/07 - Solid pitching, timely hitting and strong defensive play in the field enabled Keene State College to sweep an LEC softball doubleheader (4-1 and 7-1) against rival Plymouth State College at Owl Athletic Complex on Thursday.

Ranked second in New England, Keene State (24-4, 9-3 LEC) extended its winning streak to seven games.  "Softball is a game of rhythm," said KSC Coach Charlie Beach.  "I think we found our rhythm today."

KSC didn't waste any time getting on the board in the first game.  The Owls took a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by Mo Scata (Medway, Mass.) and an RBI double by Allie D'Amato (Bristol, Conn.).  KSC added one more run in the second on an RBI single by Jenna Patnode (Surry, N. H.) off the pitcher's glove, an another run in the third on Colleen Ferguson's team-leading fifth  home run of the season.

The Panthers got one run back in the fourth inning on a RBI double by Danielle Normand (Rumford, R.I.) to make it 3-1. 

One of three seniors playing their final home regular season games of the season for the Owls, centerfielder Kathleen Gambino (Freeport, N.Y.) made a nice defensive play going back to track down a fly ball hit by Becca DiPietro (Portsmouth, R.I.) in the fifth.

D'Amato gave KSC an insurance run in the sixth when she doubled home Kaity Conklin (Selkirk, N.Y.). D'Amato ended the game with a nice over the shoulder grab of Leanne Barry's (Auburn, N.H.) fly ball to left.

"Maybe the nice weather had something to do with it, but I felt really good at the plate today and tried to be aggressive," said D'Amato.  "It was our last home game, so I wanted to have a good day.

As far as her nice catch, D'Amatao said "the other team's slap hitters were hitting the ball a little farther.  "I got a good jump and was able to get it."

Patnode, Ferguson and D'Amato finished the game with two hits each.

Ashlee Nicholson (Swanzey, N.H.) fanned 13, one shy of her personal best, on the way to improving her record to a perfect 11-0.  She gave up just four hits and walked one batter. "It was my ordinary up and down day," said Nicholson.  "I was lucky, the strike zone was pretty wide and they chased some pitchers.  "But I have to give a lot of credit to my teammates.  They gave me some runs to work with which makes my job easier.  Even if I make a mistake, I know my defense will take care of me."

Ashley Pinkham (Center Barnstead, N.H.) took the loss for the Panthers.

In the second game, Keene State took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the third.  Pantnode had an RBI triple to right field.  She came home on Julia May's single up the middle.

The Panthers had a player cut down at home in the fourth.  Normand opened the inning with a doubled and moved to third on a single by Sammi Romano (Kingston, N.H.) Attempting to score on Kat Roland's grounder to third, Normand was tagged out at home by KSC catcher Mo Scata. 

KSC broke the game open with four runs in the bottom of the inning.  Patnode had a sacrifice fly, and Jessica Starkey (Keene, N.H.), Katie Allenson (Clifton Park, N.Y.), and Conklin had RBI hits.

May was four-for-four at the plate for the Owls, who also got two hits a piece from Allenson and Gambino.

Normand and Jenna George (Cumberland, R.I.) had two hits each for PSC (11-16, 3-7 LEC).

Erin Fuoroli (Warwick, R.I.) scattered eight hits to pick up the win (11-4).  She fanned nine and walked two.  Roland, who pitched into the fourth, took the loss for the Panthers.

Coach Beach knows they will have their hands full when they travel up to Southern Maine on Saturday.  "They're a well coached team, said Beach.  We always have trouble winning up there."

Plymouth State, which has dropped seven straight, will be at UMass-Boston on Saturday (1 p.m.)