CLERMONT, FLA. 3/16/09 - The Keene State Softball team opened its
season with two wins on Monday. The Owls shutout Franciscan
(Ohio) College 8-0 in a game called after five innings and then
defeated Bethel (Minn.) University 4-1 in seven innings. Both games
were played at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla.
The Owls scored runs in the fist three innings against
Franciscan. The Owls took a 2-0 lead in the first on a
sacrifice bunt by senior Katie Allenson (Clifton
Park, N.Y.) and a dropped fly ball off the bat of sophomore
Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.).
Senior Allie D'Amato (Bristol, Conn.) had a
run-producing triple in a two run second inning. Sophomore
Ashley Annis (Gilford, N.H.) had a two-run triple
in a four-run third inning.
Making her first start, freshman Ashley Clark
(Brentwood, N.H.) tossed a two-hitter to pick up the win. She
struck out 12 batters.
Trailing 1-0 in the second game, the Owls scored two run in the
fourth inning to take the lead. Bradford had a double that
hit of the base of the fence in left field. Allenson was hit
by a pitch and freshman Courtney Savoie (Stratham,
N.H.) reached on an error to load the bases. Freshman
Liz McNamara (Londonderry, N.H.) doubled to left
center to score two runs.
The Owls added two more runs in the seventh. Senior
Jenna Patnode's (Surry, N.H.) single to the left
side scored a run. The second run came in on a wild pitch.
Patnode and McNamara had two hits each for the Owls.
Freshman Emily Albin (Bethel, Conn.) pitched into
the seventh inning to get the win. She gave up one run on five hits
with a strikeout and two walks. Savoie got the final out of
the game to pick up the save.
KSC Coach Charlie Beach was pleased after watching
his team play for the first time. "We have 10 new players
this season, so it was good to see them get their feet wet and get
a couple of wins," he said.
Keen State plays Ripon College and Suffolk University on Tuesday.
