CLERMONT, FLA. 3/17/09 - The Keene State softball team split its
two games in Clermont, Florida on Tuesday. After dropping a
6-5 game in eight innings to Ripon (WI) College, the Owls came back
to defeat Suffolk University 12-3.
Keene State had an early 3-0 lead against Ripon. Senior
Kate Allenson (Clifton, Park, N.Y.) had an RBI
single in the first. Freshman Haley Chandler
(Wakefield, Mass.) and Jenna Patnode (Surry, N.H.)
had run producing hits in the second.
The Red Hawks scored two runs in the third and three more in the
fifth to go up 5-3. KSC tied the game with two runs in the
bottom of the fifth, junior Stephanie Lavado
(Wallingford, Conn.) scored a run on a fielder's choice and
sophomore Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.) came home
on a wild pitch.
Ripon's Jessica Goudreau was placed on second due to the
international tie-breaking rules. She came home a RBI single by
Jackie Reichhart.
KSC's Ashley Annis (Gilford, N.H.) was placed
on second in the bottom of the eighth. She moved to third on
a passed ball, but was left stranded to end the game.
Patnode, Bradford, and Allenson had two hits each for the Owls.
Freshman Courtney Savoie (Stratham, N.H.) got
the start for Keene State. She pitched five innings, giving up five
runs on six hits with seven strikeouts. Freshman
Ashley Clark (Brentwood, N.H) pitched the final
three innings and took the loss. She gave up a run on two hits and
fanned a pair.
The Owls, who banged out 15 hits, scored in bunches against
Suffolk in their second game.
Keene State scored four runs in the third on back-to-back home
runs by Bradford and Allenson. Bradford hit a two-run dinger to
center while Allenson's home run was a solo shot to the same
location.
Chandler had an RBI single in a three-run fourth inning and a
RBI double in the fifth that put the Owls up 8-3. KSC plated
four more runs in the seventh with freshman Tiana
Liu (Lebanon, N.H.) delivering a two-run double and
Bradford smacking an RBI single.
Bradford went 3-for-5 while Allenson, Chandler, and senior Allie
D'Amato (Bristol, Conn.) had two hits each.
Freshman Samantha Pratt (West Hartford, Conn.)
pitched the first six innings and picked up her first collegiate
win. She gave up three runs on four hits and had three
strikeouts. Freshman Emily Albin (Bethel,
Conn.) tossed the final inning.
Keene State, 3-1 on its trip, plays Fairleigh Dickinson-Florham
and Babson College on Wednesday.
