'Providence, RI- Sophomore left fielder Danielle Sargent (Sabattus, ME) went 2-for-4 from the plate with two RBI and one run scored, while junior pitcher Jenn Elwell (Tewskbury, MA) hurled a complete game victory to lead the fifth-seeded Endicott College to an, 8-4, win over fourth-seeded Keene State College in game two of the NCAA Division III Softball New England Regional Tournament.

Endicott College (31-10) will face top-seeded Rhode Island College (38-5) tomorrow at 2 p.m., while Keene State (27-8) squares off eighth-seeded Framingham State (21-20) at 10 a.m. in an elimination game.

After a scoreless first inning, Endicott College lit the scoreboard with five runs, capitalizing on four consecutive errors by Keene State, including three by junior shortstop Julia May (Deep River, CT).  Gulls' center fielder Paula McGinn (Lynn, MA) posted an RBI single, while Sargent capped the surge with a two-out, two-RBI single.

The Owls responded with four runs in the bottom half of the inning, taking advantage of two Endicott errors. Senior center fielder Kathleen Gambino (Freeport, NY) and sophomore third baseman Jenna Patnode (Surry, NH) each recorded RBI singles, while senior right fielder Kari Gardner (Grafton, MA) laced a two-RBI single to whittle the deficit to 5-4.

Endicott pushed another run across in the top of the third inning. With one-out, the Gulls put together three consecutive singles to load the bases and McGinn drew a walk to plate the run. Keene State senior starting pitcher Erin Fuoroli (Warwick, RI) was lifted for junior Ashlee Nicholson (Swanzey, NH), who retired the next two batters to limit the damage. Fuoroli was roughed up for six runs, only one of which was earned, on six hits.  

The Gulls added two insurance runs in the sixth stanza, as Sargent walked, stole second and eventually scored on freshman third baseman Sarah Spaziano's (Norton, MA) RBI fielder's choice. For the second time in the contest, the Owls issued a bases loaded walk as Elwell was credited with RBI to extend the visitor's lead to 8-4. 

That would be more than enough support for Elwell, who did not surrender an earned run on the day. She limited Keene State to seven hits hits, while fanning six to improve to 13-2 on the campaign. Fuoroli was credited with the loss as her record dips to 11-6 on the season. Nicholson surrendered two runs on just one hit, while striking out five in 4.2 innings.

Keene State will play Framingham State tomorrow at 10 am at Rhode Island College for their last chance to stay alive in the double elimination NCAA tournament.