Clermont, Florida 3/20/10 – The Keene State College softball team finished their spring trip to Florida with a split on Saturday afternoon in Clermont, Florida. The Owls defeated Plattsburgh State 3-1 but then fell to Rochester 4-2 to conclude the voyage with an 8-4 record.

“I am pleased to finish our trip down here at 8-4,” said KSC Head Coach Charlie Beach. “We were able to do enough to win games, but we have some work to do when we get back up north.”

Against Plattsburgh State, the Owls tied the game at one in the bottom of the third, when Haley Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) scored on Laura Chandler's (Wakefield, Mass.) RBI fielders choice.

In the fifth KSC took the lead for good, as shortstop Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.) singled and stole second base to put herself in scoring position. Laura Chandler would get her second RBI of the game on a triple scoring Bradford. Senior catcher Stephanie Lavado's (Wallingford, Conn.) sacrifice-fly supplied the other Owl's run for the 3-1 victory.

Sophomore pitcher Courtney Savoie (Stratham, N.H.) went the distance, allowing one run on three hits and striking out four in the victory.

In the loss to Rochester, Haley Chandler got KSC started by scoring on a wild pitch in the first.

Rochester answered with one run in the second and three in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead.

The Owls started a comeback, as freshman outfielder Jessica Fiorenza (Wakefield, Mass.) would lace an RBI double to score classmate Kayla Joyce (Bridgewater, Mass.) to cut the lead to 4-2, but it would not be enough Rochester stopped the rally and took home the victory.

Sophomore Ashley Clark (Alton, N.H.) gave up the four Rochester runs in three and two-thirds innings on four hits, four strikeouts and five walks. Emily Albin (Bethel, Conn.) pitched the final two and a third innings scattering three hits and striking out three batters.

The Owls will travel back from Florida to face Amherst College on the road at 1 p.m. on Saturday March 27th. KSC will have their home opener Tuesday, March 30th against Springfield at 3:30.