BABSON PARK, MASS. 3/26/09 - The Keene State College baseball team improved its record to 8-6 with a 4-1 non-conference victory over Babson College at Govoni Field on Thursday.  The game was moved to Babson due to unplayable conditions at Owl Athletic Complex.

Instead of using their bats, the Owls took advantage of strong start by Corey Vogt (Suffield, Conn.) to notch the win. The sophomore pitched six innings of four hit ball to improve his record to 2-0.  He struck out eight and walked two batters.

"He threw strikes, stayed ahead of the hitters and was aggressive with his fastball," said KSC associate coach Marty Testo.  "He competed very well against a very good team."

Dan Martin (Cromwell, Conn.), Jeff Raymond (Amston, Conn.), and Rob DelBuono (Trumbull, Conn.) also saw action on the mound. DelBuono set down the sides in order in the ninth to pick-up his second save of the season.

The Owls scored all their runs in the first three innings.  Stepping to the plate in the bottom of the first, Jeff Perkins (Dunbarton, N.H.) hit a home run to right center to give KSC a 1-0 lead.  It was the senior's first career round-tripper. "I usually try to stay within myself and not swing out of my shoes, but I got a good pitch and was able to extend my arms and hit it out" said Perkins.  "Right now I'm feeling real comfortable at the plate."

Later in the inning, Anthony Cipolla (Glastonbury, Conn.) singled and came home on a double to center by Bobby Doyon (Keene, N.H.).  Doyon stole second and scored on a single through the left side by Beau Darak (Londonderry, N.H.).

KSC got one more run in the third.  Cipolla opened the inning with a double and went to third on an infield single by Doyon.  Cipolla scored on an infield ground out by Tyler DiPrato (Suffield. Conn.).

Vogt kept the Beavers from eating away at the Owls' lead. Only two Babson players advanced to second during his six-inning stint.

KSC lost its shutout in the top of the eighth inning on a RBI single by Travis Johasson. Babson (9-5) had seven hits in the game.

Perkins and Cipolla each had three hits while Doyon finished with a couple of hits.

Keene State begins Little East play on Saturday when it travels to UMass-Dartmouth for a doubleheader (12 p.m.).