KEENE, N.H. 5/7/08 - Playing in her final game at Owl Athletic
Complex field, senior pitcher Ashlee Nicholson
(Swanzey, N.H.) tossed a complete game four-hitter and set a KSC
career strikeout record to lead second seed Keene State to a 4-0
win over seventh seed St. Joseph's College of Maine in a
quarterfinal game of the ECAC Division III New England tournament
on Wednesday.
"We're not ready to end our season," said Nicholson. "We have
a lot of seniors on the team who want to end their careers on a
positive note."
Keene State (26-12) will move on the double-elimination round
hosted by top seed Brandeis University this weekend. The Owls
will face Simmons College of Boston on Saturday.
Nicholson (16-6) was in control all game, only allowing two runners
in the second and sixth innings to reach second. She needed
three strikeouts for the record.
Finishing the game with five strikeouts and two walks, Nicholson
said she was aware she was closing in on the KSC career record
(513) held by Lindsey Blood. "My dad
(Stephen) is big on stats, so I knew I was close, said Nicholson,
who earlier set the Owl career win record. "I wanted to do it for
him and the team."
Nicholson got the record when she struck out the side in the
seventh inning. "I wanted to get it done earlier, but they were
making good contact, she said. "I'm glad I got it in my final
home game."
The Owls scored two runs in the third on a RBI double to left
center by junior designated player Katie Allenson
(Clifton Park, N.Y.) and an infield hit by senior shortstop
Colleen Ferguson (Sussex, N.J.).
KSC added a single run in the fifth on a RBI double by senior
catcher Melissa Scata (Medway, Mass.) and another
in the sixth on a run-producing hit by junior third baseman
Jenna Patnode (Surry, N.H.).
The Owls finished the game with 11 hits, Scata had three and
Patnode, Ferguson, and senior outfielder Liz
Mroczka (Rocky Hill, Conn.) had two each.
Freshman third baseman Cat DeSimone (Waterboro, Me.) had two hits
for the Monks, who conclude their season with a 26-17 record.
Freshman Kiera Walsh (Benton, Me.), 15-8, who gave up three runs on
nine hits with strikeouts, took the loss for SJC.
