KEENE, N.H. 4/18/08 - The Keene State softball team split a non-conference doubleheader against New England College in Keene on Friday.  The Owls banged out 14 hits en route to a 10-1 win in the opener.  The Pilgrims held off a late KSC rally to win the nightcap 7-5. The game was moved to Keene due to unplayable field conditions in Henniker.

            Keene State record goes to 15-7.  New England College is 5-20.

            In the opener, KSC scored singled runs in the first and third innings. Katie Allenson (Clifton Park, N.Y.) had an RBI single in the first and Jenna Patnode (Surry, N.H., who doubled, came around to score on a ground out. 

            Allie D'Amato (Bristol, Conn.) had an RBI triple as the Owls plated two more runs in the fifth.  Patnode had an RBI double in the sixth to extend KSC's lead to 5-0.

            NEC scored its only run in the bottom of the sixth on a RBI single by Alexandria Sacco (Tewksbury, Mass.).

            A five-run seventh inning by KSC included a two-run single by Patnode, who went five-for-five in the game with three RBIs. Allenson had a pair of hits and three RBIs.

            Ashlee Nicholson (Swanzey, N.H.), 7-3, got the complete game win for KSC.  She gave up five hits with three strikeouts and didn't issue a walk.

            Bethany Forshaw (Waterford, Conn.) took the loss for NEC.  Her record goes to 2-10.

            In the second game, KSC took a 2-1 lead in top of the third on a two-run home run by Jessica Starkey (Keene, N.H.) her third home run of the season.

            The Pilgrims came back with five runs in the bottom of the inning.  Amanda Lester (Columbia, Conn.) had a RBI single and Deanna Brayton (Queensbury, N.Y.) had a two-run home run, her first of the season.

            NEC added another run in the on an RBI single by Kristen Purdy (Candia, N.H.). That run would turn out to be valuable for the Pilgrims, who withstood a late seventh inning rally by the Owls.

            The Owls got four runs back in the top of the seventh. Mo Sacta (Medfield, Mass.) had a two run double.  KSC picked up two more runs on a fielder's choice and an error.

            Scata, who finished the game with three hits, came into the game one home run shy of becoming KSC's all-time leader.  The record is held by former Owl and current NEC coach Carrah Fisk-Hennessey.  "I was very aware she was going for the record," said Fisk-Hennessey after the game.  "I told my pitchers not to pitch her anything pretty."

            Elizabeth Ross (W.Hartford, Conn.) and Brayton had two hits and two RBIs in the game for NEC.

            Pitcher Jessie Williams (Jaffrey, N.H.), (5-4) took the loss for KSC.  Boyton (3-4) got the win for NEC giving up six run on 10 hits with three strikeouts and walks.

             On Saturday, KSC hosts UMass-Dartmouth.  NEC returns to action on Sunday at Anna Maria.