ECAC DIV. III
NEW ENGLAND SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT
Keene State claims 2009 crown with 11-1 win over Brandeis; Patnode
named MVP
At Brandeis University
May 10
#1 Brandeis def. #6 Plymouth State, 6-4 (Plymouth State
eliminated
#2 Keene State def. #1 Brandeis, 11-1 (5 innings, Brandeis
eliminated)
May 9
Game 1: #1 Brandeis 11, #4 Western New England 3 (5 innings)
Game 2: #2 Keene State 4, #6 Plymouth State 1
Game 3: #6 Plymouth State 5, #4 Western New England 0 (WNEC
eliminated)
Game 4: #2 Keene State 6, #1 Brandeis 3
WALTHAM, Mass. - Second-seeded Keene State College softball team
won its first ECAC Division III New England crown today with a
convincing 11-1 triumph over top-seeded Brandeis on Marcus Field
today in a rematch of last season's championship contest. Owl
senior centerfielder and leadoff hitter Jenna
Patnode (Surry, N.H./Monadnock Regional) earned tournament
MVP honors after batting 8-for-15 (.533) in the tournament with six
runs scored, two RBI and five stolen bases.
"We played with a lot of emotion throughout the tournament,"
said KSC Coach Charlie Beach. "They had
something to prove after missing the NCAA tournament and wanted to
get some redemption from last year's loss to Brandeis in the
championship game."
"This was the last hurrah for the seniors and they exalted the
underclassmen to play well."
"We played awesome," said Patonde. "I think we showed the
NCAA the way we can play. I can't think of a better way to
end my career. I had four amazing years at Keene State and
loved every second of it."
"Even though we had so many freshmen, I thought this was the
most talented team I've been on," said senior Katie Allenson.
"We developed a special team chemistry that made us
successful."
Keene State (30-14) got the job done thanks to a nine-run outburst
in the second inning. The Owls had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of
the first when sophomore RF Ashley Annis (Gilford,
N.H./Gilford) took advantage of a blustery wind to hit a solo home
run to right-centerfield, but they blew the game open in their next
at bat. KSC sent 14 hitters to the plate, with the first 10
reaching base safely. The big blows in the frame were a two-run
double to right by Patnode, followed by a two-run single up the
middle by Annis. Senior 3B Katie Allenson (Clifton Park,
NY/Shenendahoa) added an RBI single to the mix, her team-leading
fifth of the tournament.
Brandeis (28-17) loaded the bases in the second with one out. Keene
State got an infield grounder that they turned into an out at the
plate before giving up their only run of the contest on a
bases-loaded walk to sophomore 2B Melisa Cagar (Ridgewood,
N.J./Ridgewood).
Sophomore SS Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H./Lebanon) got the run
back for Keene State in the top of the third on a single to right
that plated Annis, who finished the day going 2-2 with three runs
scored and three RBI to go with her home run. Rookie hurler
Courtney Savoie (Stratham, N.H./Exeter) picked up
her second win of the tournament and 13th of the
campaign by scattering four hits in five innings, striking out two
and walking three. The Owls also turned in excellent defense,
making three spectacular catches in the fifth inning, including a
diving stab by Bradford at short and charging catch by Patnode to
end the game.
Brandeis reached the championship round by eliminating Plymouth
State University, 6-4, in the day's first game.
Keene State was making its third appearance in the past four
years in the ECAC Division III tournament. It was the Owls
10th overall trip to the ECACs. KSC won the 1990 and 1993
softball titles as a Division II member. In Division III, the
Owls have made four appearances. In 1998 the tournament was
not completed due to rain. In the 2004 double-elimination
tournament, they dropped semifinal games to Smith College and Coast
Guard. In 2006, KSC defeated Curry College in a first-round game
before the tournament was postponed because of rain. Last season,
the Owls advanced to the championship round before falling to
Brandeis 6-5.
