KEENE, N.H.  4/17/09 - The Keene State softball team scored early and late to sweep a non-conference doubleheader over New England College at Owl Athletic Complex on Friday afternoon.

The Owls (11-10-1) scored three runs in the first inning on the way to 6-2 win in the opener.  KSC rallied for five runs in the sixth inning to pull out a 6-4 victory in the nightcap against the Pilgrims (8-18).

The Owls didn't waste any time getting on the board in the opener, plating three runs in the first inning on RBI singles by sophomore Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.) and junior Stephanie Lavado (Wallingford, Conn.) and a run-producing double from freshman Haley Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.).

The Pilgrims got one run back in the third on a RBI single up the middle by freshman Chelsea Torrico (Mt. Washington, Mass.).

KSC answered with a run in the bottom of the frame when senior Katie Allenson (Clifton Park) walked and scored on a sacrifice fly by freshman Haley Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.).

Junior Mary Roux (Auburn, Mass.) homered to left center to make it a 4-2 game in the fourth.

The Owls added a single run the bottom of the inning.  Senior Jenna Patnode (Surry, N.H.) opened the inning with a triple and came home on a sacrifice fly by Bradford.

Patnode used her speed to give KSC another run in the sixth.  The senior third baseman walked, stole second and raced home on a two- base wild pitch.

Patnode had two hits and scored three runs while Bradford and Haley Chandler each had a pair of RBIs.

Torrico had three hits and seniors Deanna Brayton (Queensbury, N.Y.) and Alexandria Sacco (Tewksbury, Mass.) had two each a piece for NEC.

Freshman Courtney Savoie (Stratham, N.H.) got the win (4-3) for the Owls.  She gave up two runs on nine hits with eight strikeouts.  Freshman Samantha Pratt (Bristol, Conn.) came into pitch in the fifth and got the save.  She tossed 2.2 innings of one hit ball with four strikeouts.

Freshman Emma Duguay (Berlin, N.H.) took the loss (1-4) for NEC. She allowed four runs on six hits while fanning one and issuing three walks.

In the second game, the Pilgrims loaded the bases and scored four runs in the first inning.  Two runs came in on walks, Brayon bunted in a run and junior Kristen Purdy (Candia, N.H.) had a run scoring single.

KSC scored one run on a sacrifice fly by Bradford in the third inning, but had several potential rallies cut short.  In the fifth inning, the Owls had runners on first and third with one out.  Bradford's fly ball was caught by NEC right fielder Brayton, who threw out Ashley Annis (Gilford, N.H.) at home.

The Owls scored five runs on six hits to take a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth.  Lauren Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) had a RBI single, senior Allie D'Amato (Bristol, Conn.) tied the game with a two-run double to right center, and  Patnode drove in the game winner with  triple with a drive to the gap in left center.

"We finally started hitting," said Patnode, who broke the career record for total bases (284) previously, held by former Owl and current NEC coach Carrah Fisk.  "I usually help the team with my speed, so it was nice to help out with my power."

KSC added an insurance run on a RBI single by Annis.

Patnode, Annis, and D'Amato had two hits each. 

Freshman Stephanie Freitag (Lakeville, Mass.) had two of the Pilgrims' six hits.

Freshman Ashley Clark (Brentwood, N.H.) took over for starter freshman Emily Albin (Bethel, Conn.) in the sixth and picked up the win (3-3).  She gave up one hit and fanned two batters over the final two innings.

Sophomore Bethany Forshaw (Waterford, Conn.) took the loss for NEC. She gave up six runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

Both teams return to conference play on Saturday, the Owls travel to UMass-Dartmouth and the Pilgrims host Endicott College.