AMHERST, MASS. 04/08/08 - Senior Evan Bruno's two-out RBI-single to right field in the top of the ninth inning proved to be the game-winning hit, as the Amherst College baseball team came from behind to earn a 7-6 victory over 19th-ranked Keene State College.

The home-team Owls had a chance to tie the game in the bottom of the inning.  Anthony Cipolla (Glastonbury, Conn.) led off with a single.  Trying to sacrifice him to second, Bobby Doyon (Keene, N.H.) was hit in the back on the throw to first. The umpired ruled interference on Doyon and moved Cippola back to first.  Greg Ford (Nashua, N.H.) ended the game with a long fly out to right field.

Keene State Coach Ken Howe said it was a tough loss.  "We just didn't play good fundamental baseball," he said.  "We played liked we haven't been on the field in over a week."

The Owls took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first in the back-and-forth game.  KSC strung together four singles with Jamie Chevalier (Amherst, N.H.) and Doyon knocking in runs.

After Amherst cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the fourth, KSC got the run back in the bottom of the frame to go up 3-1 on a RBI single by Joe Rousseau (Nashua, N.H.).

The Lord Jeffs scored three times in the top of the fifth to take a 4-3 lead.  The Owls took back the lead (5-4) in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out bases loaded single up the middle by Cipolla.

Amherst got the lead back (6-5) with two runs in the seventh.  Keene State tied the game in the bottom of the eighth.  Ryan Jones (Nashua, N.H.) singled, was sacrificed to second by Jeff Perkins (Dunbarton, N.H.) and came home on a RBI hit by Chevalier.

Keene State had little to show for its 16 hits.  "We had our chances with the right guys at the plate, but they just couldn't deliver," said Howe.

Rousseau led the hit parade with four hits, Cipolla had three hits, and Perkins, Chevalier, Doyon, and Beau Darak (Londonderry, N.H.) finished with two hits each.  The Owls left 10 runners stranded on the bases.

Sophomore Ben Sonberg (Bow, N.H.) (1-1) started for KSC. He pitched 6 1/3 innings giving up five runs on nine hits with five strikeouts and no walks.  Jameson Wentworth (Peabody, Mass.) pitched to one batter before handing the ball to Chevalier, who took the loss. Chevalier went 2 2/3 innings giving up two runs on six hits, fanning two and not issuing a walk.  His record goes to 3-2.

Keene State (13-5) will be looking to get back on the wining track when they play Colby Sawyer-College on Wednesday.  The 3:30 p.m. game will either be played at Owl Athletic Complex or Keene High School.

The Lord Jeffs improve to 12-6-1 on the season.