WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. 4/15/09 - The Keene State softball
team split a non-conference doubleheader against Williams College
at Cole Field on Wednesday. After losing the first game 9-1
in six innings, the Owls came back to take the second game 11-7.
Libby Copeland-Halperin drove in four runs while Caitlyn Cain
pitched a complete game five-hitter for Williams (8-12) in the
opener.
Cain held Keene (9-10-1) off the scoreboard until the fifth when
Ashley Annis' (Gilford, N.H.) sacrifice fly scored
Elizabeth McNamara (Londonderry, N.H.). Cain
allowed only five hits over six innings, while walking no one and
striking out three.
Allie D'Amato (Bristol, Conn.) went two-for-two
while Ashley Clark (Brentwood, N.H.) (2-3) took
the loss.
The Owls jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the nightcap, scoring one
run in the first and three in the second off Williams starter Emily
Fowler-Cornfeld. Katie Allenson's (Clifton, Park,
N.Y.) RBI-single in the first scored Jenna
Patnode (Surry, N.H.), who had singled and stolen second
base. D'Amato and Annis had RBI-singles in the three-run second.
Williams climbed back into the contest when Fowler-Cornfeld
crushed a two-run home run to left in the second to make it 4-2.
Copeland-Halperin smacked a solo shot in the fourth to make it a
4-3 game.
But Keene State answered with two runs in the fifth and two in
the sixth to build an 8-4 lead. Patnode put a capper on the win
with a three-run home run to center field in the top of the
seventh, despite a great effort from Eph center fielder Jess Cross,
who ran full on into the fence trying to track the big fly down. It
was Patnode's third home run of the season.
Allenson led a 14-hit attack for Keene by going 3 for 3 with 2
RBI and 2 runs scored. D'Amato was 3 for 4 with an RBI and 2 runs
scored. Patnode was 3 for 5 with 3 RBI and 3 runs scored.
Courtney Savoie (Stratham, N.H.) earned the win
(3-3), allowing eight hits and four runs, three earned, while
walking no one and striking out two over five innings. The loss
went to Fowler-Cornfeld, who allowed seven hits and five runs, all
earned, over four frames. She walked two and struck out three.
Morgan Simpson was 3 for 4 for Williams in the loss.
Copeland-Halperin was 2 for 4 with 2 RBI and 2 runs scored. Lye was
2 for 4 with a run scored.
Keene State returns home to face New England College on Friday
(3 p.m.)
