KEENE, N.H.  4/5/09- The Keene State softball team swept a non-conference doubleheader over Husson University at blustery Owl Athletic Complex on Sunday afternoon.

Freshman Courtney Savoie (Stratham, N.H.) tossed a complete game five-hitter as KSC won the opener 4-0.  Senior Katie Allenson (Clifton Park, N.H.) drove in the go ahead run in the bottom of the ninth inning with a grounder deep in the shortstop hole in the Owls' 8-7 come-from-behind victory in the second game.

"It's still a learning process with this team," said KSC Coach Charlie Beach.  We're still making mistakes, but we're making progress."

Keene State (7-7) gets back to the .500 mark with the two wins while Husson falls to 3-11. 

The Owls took a 1-0 lead in the second inning of the first game on an RBI single by freshman Samantha Pratt (West Hartford, Conn.) on a ball just out of the reach of Eagle centerfielder Megan Bradstreet (Warren, Me.).

KSC added three more runs in the fifth.  Junior Stephanie Lavado (Wallingford, Conn.) opened the inning with a walk and came home on a throwing error.  Senior Jenna Patnode (Surry, N.H.) and freshman Haley Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) followed with back-to-back RBI doubles.

Freshman Kristen Sousa (Detroit, Me.) had a pinch hit triple for the Eagles in the top of the seventh, but she was left stranded after Savoie fanned freshman Rachel Voicechovski (Jefferson, N.J.) to end the game and preserve the shutout.

"I've been working on staying focused and I thought I did a real good job today," said Savoie, who finished the game with eight strikeouts and didn't issue a walk.  "I'm feeling more comfortable with each start."

Freshman Laura Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.), Lavado, and Pratt each had two hits in the game.  Junior Cassie Berry (Newcastle, Me.) had two of the Eagles five hits.

Sophomore Nicole Sargent (Sullivan, Me.) took the loss for Husson. She gave up four runs on nine hits with three strikeouts and one walk.

In the second game, KSC took a 2-0 lead in the second inning.  Sophomore Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.) doubled and Allenson walked. Both came home on an error.

The Owls added to their lead in the third on an RBI single by Allenson.

The Eagles got on the board in the top of the fourth on an RBI double from freshman Sarah Risser (Brewer, Me.).

Senior Allie D'Amato (Bristol, Conn.) and sophomore Ashley Annis (Gilford, N.H.) drove in runs to extend the Owls' lead to 5-1 in the bottom of the inning. A seeing- eye single by Haley Chandler brought in another run in the fifth.

Husson tied the game in the top of the sixth with a four-run, two-out rally.  Sargent drove in a run with a double, sophomore Caitlin LeBorgne (Scarborough, Me.) had a two-run double, and Voicechovski brought in the tying runs with a single to right.

The Owls loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the seventh, but had the go ahead run cut down at the plate when Savoie's fly to right was caught by Risser, who threw out Bradford at home.

The Eagles went up 7-6 in the top of eighth.  Berry began the inning at second.  She went to third on a sacrifice by Sargent and came home on an outfield error.

KSC tied the game in the bottom of the inning. Savoie was put on second to start the inning. She was bunted to third and came home on a RBI single to left by Patnode.

The Owls won the game in the bottom of ninth. Annis began the inning on second, moved to third on a bunt by Bradford and came home on Allenson's hard-hit grounder into the hole at short.

Patnode and Allenson each collected three hits in the nightcap.  Sophomore Dorothy Cameron (South Plainfield, N.J.), Bradstreet, Sargent, and Voicechovski had two hits each for the Eagles.

Pratt started for KSC and allowed three runs on six hits with six strikeouts.  Freshman Emily Albin (Bethel. Conn.)(2-2) took over in the sixth and picked up the win. She gave up four runs on five hits with two strikeouts.

Taking over for LeBorgne in the middle of the sixth inning, Sargent took the loss for Husson.  She pitched the final 2.2 innings, giving up two runs on three hits with a walk and a strikeout.

KSC hosts Springfield on Tuesday (3:30 p.m.). Husson hosts Maine-Farmington on Wednesday.