'Providence, RI-Second-seeded Keene State (27-6) eliminated fifth-seeded Southern Maine (19-22) from the 2007 Little East Conference Softball Tournament with a 5-0 win in game seven. The Owls will play the loser of top-seeded Rhode Island College vs. third-seeded Western Connecticut (5 p.m.) on Saturday, May 5 at 10 a.m. at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex.

The Owls got on the board in the bottom of the second as junior first baseman Kaity Conklin (Selkirk, NY) and sophomore left fielder Allie D'Amato (Bristol, CT) reached on back-to-back one-out singles. Conklin was erased at third on senior center fielder Kathleen Gambino's (Freeport, NY) fielder's choice. Senior right fielder Kari Gardner (Grafton, MA) belted a two-out RBI double to left field that plated D'Amato. An excellent relay throw from the outfield cut down Gambino at the plate to keep the damage to one run.

The Owls added another run in the fourth as sophomore designated player Katie Allenson (Clifton Park, NY) reached on an error and scored on a D'Amato single. Keene State loaded the bases with one out, but USM junior pitcher Kristina Grondin (Sanford, ME) got out of the jam by throwing out Conklin out at the plate and getting sophomore third baseman Jenna Patnode (Surry, NH) to fly out to center field.

Conklin put the game out of reach in the fifth, belting a two-RBI triple that rolled to the right center field wall, plating junior catcher Melissa Scata (Medway, MA) and junior shortstop Julia May (Deep River, CT). May added an RBI single of her own in the sixth to put the Owls up, 5-0.

KSC Coach Charlie Beach said Friday was a tale of two games.  "We ran into a tough pitcher in the first game.  I think Shelbie Slie (Western Conn.) is the top pitcher in the conference," he said.  "Nicole Riley might get all the publicity, but Slie is hard to hit when she's on the top of her game.  Erin Fuoroli pitched a terrific game for us. We just couldn't give her any support."

"It was nice to see the bats explode in the second game," Beach added.  "We hit some ball right on the nose and would've had some home runs if the wind wasn't blowing in."

As far as having their backs against the wall in the tournament , Beach said the team knows it can beat any of the teams still remaining in the tournament.

The Owls have history on their side.  Facing elimination in the 2003 tournament, KSC fought its way out of the losers' bracket to claim the championship.

Keene State junior pitcher Ashlee Nicholson (Swanzey, NH) upped her record to 14-1, allowing just four hits, while striking out eight to earn her sixth shutout.

Grondin falls to 14-10, allowing five runs on 13 hits to along with three strikeouts.

Five Owls registered multiple hits in the win.. Conklin went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a triple. D'Amato went 2-for-3 with one runs scored and one RBI.