KEENE, N.H.  4/22/10 – Senior catcher Stephanie Lavado (Wallingford, Conn.) clouted three home runs and drove in eight runs to lead Keene State to a 7-4 and 11-2 sweep over Fitchburg State College in a non-conference softball doubleheader played at Owl Athletic Complex on Thursday.

Lavado, who went five-for-six in the doubleheader, belted a two-run home run and had an RBI single in the first game.  Serving as the Owls' designated player in the nightcap, Lavado hit a three-run home run, a line shot over the left field fence, in the first inning and a two-run blast in the third.  She joins a list of nine KSC players who have hit two home runs in a game.

“I'm just trying to do what I can to help the team,” said Lavado, who credits assistant coach Meghan McLoughlin for throwing her countless batting practice pitches so she can work on her swing.  “I've always been strong defensively, so this season I really worked hard to improve offensively.”

Lavado also made the defensive play of the day in the first game when she backed up a play at third and tagged out a Falcon runner to complete a double play.  “When the corners come in on a bunt it's my job to cover third,” she said.

In the opener, KSC put four runs on the board in the first inning.  In addition to Lavado's two-run home run, freshman Nicole Dupuis (Fitchburg, Mass.) had an RBI double.

Fitchburg came back with two runs in the top of the second on a two-run single by senior Leigh Trzcinski (Worcester, Mass.). 

Lavado and Trzcinski traded RBI singles to make it 5-3.  KSC scored two more runs in the fifth on a wild pitch and sacrifice fly to make it a 7-3 game. A rain shower halted play in the fifth inning.

KSC finished the game with 10 hits.  Sophomore Laura Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) went two-for-four.

Sophomore Ashley McKinnon (Raynham, Mass.) had three hits for the Falcons.

Sophomore Courtney Savoie (Stratham, N.H.) got the pitching win to improve her record to 7-2.  She gave up three runs on six hits while fanning five and walking two batters.

Sophomore Allison Cousins (Leominster, Mass.) took the loss for the Falcons.

The Owls jumped out 4-0 lead in the second game that was halted in the fifth inning due to the eight-run rule. The four-run first was highlighted by Lavado's three-run home run.

Freshman Danielle Correia (West Bridgewater, Mass.) had a solo home run in the second and McKinnon added an RBI double in the third to cut KSC's lead to 4-2.

Lavado's two-run home run, her second of the game and fourth of the season made it 6-2 in the fourth.  The Owls broke the game open with a five run fourth inning that included run scoring hits from Haley and Laura Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.), junior Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.), Dupuis, and freshman Kayla Joyce (Bridgewater, Mass.).

Trzcinski picked up two more hits for FSC in the second game.

Sophomore Emily Albin (Bethel, Conn.) gave up two runs on five hits with two strikeouts and three walks to earn the win (4-1) in the circle.

Senior Bethany Stone (Wells, Maine) started for the Falcons and took the loss.

KSC (17-10-1) has a big weekend ahead with home LEC doubleheader against UMass-Dartmouth (Sat.) and Eastern Conn. (Sun.).  Fitchburg State (7-21) is at Mass. Maritime on Saturday for a MASCAC doubleheader.