CLERMONT, FLA. 3/20/09 - The Keene State College softball team split its two games in Florida on Friday, defeating Messiah (Pa.) College 6-2 and losing to Elmhurst (Ill.) College 9-6.

            Keene State is 4-4 on its spring week trip.

            The Owls jumped out to a 6-0 lead against Messiah.  Katie Allenson (Clifton Park, N.Y.) had an RBI single in the first and Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.) and Stephanie Lavado (Wallingford, Conn.) had run-producing hits in the third.

            KSC added three more runs in the fourth with Haley Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) hitting an RBI single.

            Lavado and Chandler led KSC's 10-hit attack with two hits each.

            Freshman Samantha Pratt (West Hartford, Conn.) picked up the win in the circle.  She pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up two runs on six hits.  Ashley Clark (Brentwood, N.H.) finished up, giving up three hits with a strikeout and a walk.

            The Owls fell behind 9-1 against Elmhurst before rallying for five runs in the seventh inning.  Jenna Patnode (Surry, N.H.) had a bases loaded two-run single and Chandler had an RBI double.

            Freshman pitcher Courtney Savoie (Stratham, N.H.) took the loss of the Owls. She gave up six runs on seven hits in her 5 2/3 innings of work in the circle.  She had one strikeout and two walks.

            Keene State completes its spring week trip on Saturday with games against top-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater and Buffalo State.