Providence, RI- 4/30/09 - The expected momentum from Sunday's 9-8 suspended game victory over three-time LEC champion Rhode Island College didn't last long for the second seeded Keene State softball team, which lost 2-1 to fifth seed Plymouth State University in the opening-round of the Little East Conference Tournament at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex.

The Owls (22-13) will need a win against sixth-seed Southern Maine in an elimination game at 4 p.m. to stay alive in the tournament. The Panthers advance to play the winner of fourth-seeded Western Connecticut vs. third-seeded Eastern Connecticut (2 p.m.) tomorrow at noon.

Senior pitcher Courtney MacFarland (Hampstead, NH) hurled a complete game victory (12-7) as fifth-seeded Plymouth State downed second-seeded Keene State, 2-1, in game two of the 2009 Little East Conference Softball Championship Tournament at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex.

Plymouth State took a 1-0 lead in the third inning as freshman second baseman Heather Blase (Milford, NH) doubled to left center field and later scored on a fielding error.

Keene State evened the contest up, 1-1, in the fourth as sophomore shortstop Katie Bradford (Lebanon, NH) blasted a solo homer (3) over the left field fence.

The Panthers regained the lead in the fifth as junior third baseman Kay Labrie (Somersworth, NH) walked and senior designated player Leanne Barry (Auburn, NH) was hit by a pitch to open the frame. The pair was sacrificed over to second and third, respectively, with Labrie later scoring on a passed ball.

Keene State threatened in each of the final three innings, but could not get the tying run across.  Senior Jenna Patnode (Surry, N.H.) had a one out double in the fifth and senior Katie Allenson (Clifton Park, N.Y.) and Haley Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) reached base with none out in the sixth.  In the seventh, Patnode singled with one out, stole second and moved to third on a ground out, but was left stranded.

MacFarland allowed just one run on six hits, while striking out three, in the victory. Keene State freshman pitcher Ashley Clark (Brentwood, NH) took the loss (6-4), allowing two runs on two hits, while striking out three in four innings. Freshman Samantha Pratt (West Hartford, CT) came on in relief in the fifth.