'Providence, RI  5/11/07-Junior catcher Melissa Scata (Medway, MA) paced an 11-hit attack with a 3-for-4 performance, including a pair of doubles, as second-seeded Keene State College powered past eighth-seeded Framingham State, 9-2, in the elimination bracket of the NCAA Division III Softball New England Regional Tournament this morning at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex. Sophomore left fielder Allie D'Amato (Bristol, CT) posted a team-high three RBIs, while seven of the Owls' starting nine registered at least one hit.

Keene State College (28-8) advances to play the loser of the second-seeded Tufts University vs. third-seeded Wellesley College game (noon) at noon on May 12, while Framingham State (21-21) bows out of the tournament and concludes its season.

"I told the players to put yesterday behind them and play the way a Keene State team should play," said KSC Coach Charlie Beach. "We had a meeting after yesterday's game, and everyone today came out with an upbeat attitude."

The Owls jumped out to an early six-run advantage, scoring three runs in both the second and third innings. Scata started the surge in the second stanza with a leadoff double to right center field as Keene State sent seven batters to the plate. D'Amato drove in the first run of the morning with a sacrifice fly to center field, chasing Framingham State senior starting DeAnna Curtis (Lakeville, MA) after just 1.1 innings of work. Senior right fielder Kari Gardner (Grafton, MA) rudely greeted junior relief pitcher Kelly Knox (Framingham, MA) with a two-RBI double to left center field to cap the frame.

"Going up 3-0 in the second was a big lift," Beach said.  "It's much easier to play when you're not pressing. We got good pitching and good hitting and that usually brings positive results."

Keene State capitalized on a pair of errors in the top of the third to extend its lead to 6-0. D'Amato delivered the knock-out blow, driving in a pair of runs with a one-out, single to right field.

Framingham State pushed a run across in the third and fourth innings to cut the deficit to 6-2, but the Owls' responded with three insurance runs in the fifth to seal the victory.

Keene State junior starting pitcher Ashlee Nicholson (Swanzey, NH) hurled her 13th complete game of the campaign, allowing just two runs on six hits to raise her record to 15-2.  The junior right-hander overmatched the Rams, striking out nine on the day.

Framingham State senior center fielder Maki Faria (Acton, MA) led the Rams' attack with a 2-for-2 showing from the dish with a run scored, while third basemen sophomore third baseman Colleen Clancy (Lynn, MA) also logged two hits in four attempts.