KEENE, N.H.  4/14/09 - The Keene State softball team split a Little East Conference doubleheader against rival Plymouth State University at Owl Athletic Complex on Tuesday afternoon.

Senior Courtney MacFarland (Hampstead, N.H.) tossed a complete game four-hitter to lead the Panthers to a 5-1 win in the opening game.  The Owl bats came alive in the nightcap, banging out 14 hits in a 16-1, five-inning victory to give them their first conference win of the season.

MacFarland was the story in the first game.  The senior had perfect until the sixth inning when Owl freshman Courtney Savoie (Stratham, N.H.) singled with one out.  Senior Allie D'Amato (Bristol, Conn.) followed with a double moving Savoie to third. Savioe came home on a sacrifice fly by senior Jenna Patnode (Surry, N.H.) for the Owls only run of the game.

Plymouth State (15-8, 4-4 LEC) scored single runs in the second and third innings.  Senior Heather Bartolo (Derry, N.H.) had an RBI single in the second and Junior Sammi Romano (Kingston, N.H.), who had three hits in the game, opened the third with a single and came around to score on an error later in the inning.

Bartolo drove in a run in the sixth and sophomore Kortney Nedeau (Kennebunk, Me.) had a two-run home, her third of the season, in the seventh.

MacFarland fanned two and didn't issue a walk to improve her record to 8-4.  Freshman Emily Albin (Bethel, Conn.) who gave up five runs on nine hits in her 6.1 innings of work in the circle took the loss (2-3).

Keene State (8-9-1, 1-2-1 LEC) didn't waste any time taking control of the second game with a 10-run first inning.  The Owls batted around collecting 10 hits with sophomore Ashley Annis (Gilford, N.H.) knocking in three runs, Patnode plating a pair, and sophomore Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H), freshman Haley Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) senior Katie Allenson (Clifton Park, N.Y.), and junior Stephanie Lavado (Wallingford, Conn.) each driving in a run.

Patnode, who finished the game with four RBIs, had a two-run home run, her second dinger of the season, in the second. 

KSC freshman Haley Botti (Dracut, Mass.) won soon forget her first college round-tripper.  Pinch hitting in the third inning with the bases loaded, she fouled off numerous pitches, before putting the ball over the left field fence for a grand-slam home run.  It was just her second hit of the season.

Allenson had three hits while Patnode, Annis, Lavado, and Laura Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) added two hits each for the Owls.

Sophomore Melissa Caiazzo (Portland, Me.) had two of the Panther's six hits.

Freshman Ashley Clark (Brentwood, N.H.) was the recipient of the offensive support.  She scattered six hits while striking out six and walking two batters to improve her record to 2-2.  PSU starter Jenna George, who couldn't get an out in the first inning, picked up the loss (5-3).

Keene State heads to Williams College on Wednesday.  Plymouth State hosts Framingham State on Thursday. Both non-conference doubleheaders begin at 3:30 p.m.