Clermont, Florida 3/15/2010 – The Keene State College softball team, led by senior Steph Lavado's (Wallingford, Conn.) 5-for-6 day with five runs, a walk and an RBI, swept Franciscan University of Steubenville 14-0 in five innings, and dropped Concordia University of Wisconsin 6-3 on Monday afternoon in Clermont, Florida.

In game one, the Owls took control in the top of the third inning on a bases-clearing double by freshman outfielder Jessica Fiorenza (Wakefield, Mass.).

Lavado went 2-for-2 with a walk, three runs and an RBI. Sophomore Haley Botti (Dracut, Mass.) and Junior Heather Harold (Newton, N.J.) each had two RBI performances in the win.

Sophomore hurler Emily Albin (Bethel, Conn.) went the distance, pitching five innings allowing just two hits and striking out 10 in the victory.

Against Concordia University (Wisconsin), KSC jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-RBI double from sophomore first-baseman Courtney Savoie (Stratham, N.H.).

Shortstop Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.) went 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Lavado went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

The sophomore pitching combination of Ashley Clark (Alton, N.H.) and Samantha Pratt (Bristol, Conn.) shut-down the Concordia attack. Clark went five innings, allowing six hits, two walks and six strikeouts in the win, while Pratt pitched the final two innings giving up two hits and striking out two for her first save of 2010.

“I am very pleased at how we got out of trouble innings today,” said KSC Head Coach Charlie Beach. “We made some errors to get into some jams, but we solved the problems nicely and that is why we are down here this time of year.”

The Owls will play two games tomorrow. At 1:30 they will face Bethel (Minn.) and at 3:30 they will face regional foe Bowdoin.