PROVIDENCE, R.I. 5/2/09 - Needing to win three games to claim its first Little East Tournament Championship since 2005,  a valiant Keene State College team won twice, before coming up short, losing to R.I. College 1-0 in the decisive championship game of the tournament at the Dayna A. Bazar Softball Complex in Providence on Saturday.

Top-seeded Rhode Island College (40-5) captures its fourth straight LEC title.    Keene State (26-14) will wait until Monday to see if it will receive an at-large bid.

 "I'm very proud of this team," said KSC Coach Charlie Beach.  "They matured all season long and got to a point where they were one win away from winning the LEC championship. You couldn't ask more of a team with eight freshmen."

"Right after the game the players were disappointed because they came so close and didn't get it done," he said.  "But after awhile, they realized what a wonderful job they've done."

 "I've been told that an NCAA bid is within our grasp because we played so well in the last couple of weeks," Beach said.  "I don't know what will happen.  If we don't make it to the NCAAs, I'd like to see us play in the ECAC tournament where this team would have an opportunity to continue to play and mature.  This team is only going to get better." 

Sophomore pitcher Amanda Berard (Swansea, MA) was named the 2009 Little East Conference Softball Championship Tournament¹s Most Outstanding Player. She appeared in four of RIC's five games, going 2-0 with one save, a 0.34 ERA and six strikeouts in 20.1 innings pitched. She hurled a complete game shutout in the final game vs. Keene State to lift RIC to the title.   

Keene State came into today's action, knowing it would have to win three straight games in order to win the championship. After dispatching fourth-seeded Western Connecticut, 8-0, in five innings, the Owls would need to sweep Rhode Island College, which hadn't lost yet in the tourney, or lost back-to-back games all year.

The Owls earned a dramatic 2-1 victory in game 10 behind a strong effort from freshman pitcher Courtney Savoie (Stratham, NH) who kept the Anchorwomen scoreless until their final at-bat.

Senior center fielder Allie D'Amato (Bristol, CT) singled to open up the fourth. With one out, sophomore shortstop Katie Bradford (Lebanon, NH) reached on an infield single. After a ground out advanced the runners to second and third, freshman first baseman Haley Chandler (Wakefield, MA) singled up the middle to bring in both runs. RIC junior starter Jenna Deveines (Lowville, NY) was lifted for Berard, who shut down the Owls for the remainder of the game.

RIC came into the bottom of the seventh needing two runs to prolong the contest. Sophomore first baseman Chelsi Panarelli (Shrewsbury, MA) laced a hard single up the middle to lead off the frame. Savoie got two fly outs, but senior left fielder Kelli McCartin (Cranston, RI) crushed a double to left center field, scoring Panarelli all the way from first. Savoie then got sophomore shortstop Donielle Mattoon (Coventry, RI) to ground out to end the game and force a game 11.

Savoie earned the win (10-3), allowing just one run on five hits, while recording four strikeouts. Deveines suffered her first loss (15-1) of the year.  

One run was all it took as Berard continued to keep the Owls off the scoreboard in the game 11 victory. Mattoon led off the fourth with a single up the middle off of Keene State freshman pitcher Emily Albin (Bethel, CT). After a pop out, Mattoon moved into scoring position on junior right fielder Michelle Perrin's (Saugus, MA) ground out. Sophomore catcher Kayla Jandreau (Plainville, CT) smashed a double to center field, plating Mattoon with what proved to be the game-winning run.

Keene State threatened in the fourth loading the bases as junior catcher Stephanie Lavado (Wallingford, CT) walked, Chandler singled and freshman designated player Samantha Pratt (West Hartford, CT) reached on an error.

With two down, Berard forced freshman second baseman Laura Chandler (Wakefield, MA) to tap a grounder to RIC freshman third baseman Cristina Bailey (Londonderry, NH) who stepped on third to end the frame.

KSC put two aboard in the fifth, but with one away, senior third baseman Kate Allenson (Clifton Park, NY) lined out to Bailey, who fired a strike to second to pick off senior center fielder Jenna Patnode (Surry, NH).

The Owls, who were the home team in the contest, put two aboard with two down in the bottom of the seventh, but sophomore right fielder Ashley Annis (Gilford, NH) was erased at second on Allenson¹s fielder¹s choice to give RIC the win.  

Berard (14-2) earned the win, allowing just six hits, while Albin (4-4) took the loss. Pratt and freshman Ashley Clark (Brentwood, NH) combined to shut down RIC over the finale 4.1 innings, allowing just one hit.

As the Anchorwomen head to the NCAA Tournament, they need just win to tie the 2007 team¹s program record for wins in a season.

Mattoon had an outstanding tournament, batting .533 (8-for-15) with two runs scored a triple and a team-high eight RBI. Jandreau batted .333 (6-for-18) with two runs scored a double and two RBI. Deveines was 2-1 in three appearances with a 3.00 ERA and 12 strikeouts in 11.2 innings pitched.

Keene State advanced to the championship round with a five inning 8-0 victory over fourth-seeded Western Connecticut earlier in the day.

WestConn threatened in the top of the first as senior shortstop Loren Angiolillo (Wolcott, CT) led off with a single and junior first baseman Katelyn Farrell (Stratford, CT) reached on an error. The pair was sacrificed over to third and second, respectively. Sophomore designated player Gina Facchini (Preston, CT) hit a grounder to KSC sophomore shortstop Katie Bradford (Lebanon, NH) who gunned down Angiolillo at the plate. Facchini tried to go to second on the throw home, but Owl junior catcher Stephanie Lavado (Wallingford, CT) cut her down to end the frame.

Keene State scored in the bottom of the first inning. Senior center fielder Jenna Patnode (Surry, NH) walked to lead off the game, stole second and was sacrificed to third. Senior left fielder Allie D'Amato (Bristol, CT) drew a free pass to put runners at the corners. Senior third baseman Katie Allenson (Clifton Park, NY) then doubled down the left field line to score Patnode and put the Owls up, 1-0.

With one out in the fourth, Bradford was hit by a pitch and Lavado singled. WestConn freshman pitcher Magen Dargon (Trumbull, CT) got freshman first baseman Haley Chandler (Wakefield, MA) to pop out to shortstop, but Keene State freshman designated player Samantha Pratt (West Hartford, CT) laced a hard shot down the third base line to plate Bradford. The ball was misplayed in the outfield, which allowed Lavado to come home as well and make the score, 3-0.

Keene State ended the contest in the fifth inning, scoring five runs-all with two outs. Patnode led off with a walk and stole second. Annis reached first on a bunt single to put runners on the corners. D'Amato's fielder's choice ground out brought in Patnode. Allenson walked and after Bradford popped out, Lavado reached on an error to load the bases. Haley Chandler belted a two-run double and Pratt ended the game with a two-run single.

Keene State freshman pitcher Ashley Clark (Brentwood, NH) earned seventh win (7-4) and second shutout, allowing just four hits. Dargon took the loss (12-8), allowing just three earned runs on seven hits.

Pratt went 2-for-3 with three RBI to lead the Owls' offense.