KEENE, N.H. 4/3/10 – Playing at home for the first time this season, the Keene State College baseball team split a Little East Conference doubleheader against Western Conn. State University at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday. The twinbill was moved to Keene due to an unplayable field in Danbury.

Keene State (9-8, 1-1 LEC) dropped a close 6-5 game in the opener and came back to trounce the Colonials (6-8, 2-1 LEC) 18-11 in the nightcap.

In the first game, WCSU scored five runs in the fourth to go up for good 7-2.  Senior Dan Amarante (Cheshire, Conn.) had a key two-run double.

The Owls answered with three runs in the sixth with junior Bobby Doyon (Keene, N.H.) knocking in a run with a double and sophomore Cody Callahan (Seekonk, Mass.) blasting a two-run home run.

KSC loaded the bases in the eighth inning with one out, but left all three runners stranded.

Jeff Pelkey (Fitzwilliam, N.H.) (1-1) started for the Owls and took the loss.  Junior Billy Armstrong (Moodus, Conn.) went the distance to pick up the win.  He fanned 12 and walked three to remain undefeated (3-0) on the season.

Senior Keith Patnode (Keene, N.H.) was the story for the Owls, both offensively and defensively, in the second game.  Making a rare start in center, the senior went 4-for-6 at the plate and made a couple of dazzling plays in the field.

“I've struggled the past couple of games, but finally figure it out at the plate and it carried over defensively,” he said. 

Patnode's defensive gem came in the bottom of the fifth inning, with his back to the plate, went racing back to the center field fence and made a Willie Mays catch on a long fly ball off the bat of Colonial sophomore Tim Nelson (Manchester, Conn.)  “It was hit over my head and the only way I knew I could get to it was if I turned and run,” said Patnode. “I looked up and it was right above me and so I just stuck my glove out.”

Keene State, which finished the game with 20 hits, scored runs in bunches. They scored six in the first, that featured a three-run double by junior Tyler DiPrato (Suffield, Conn.) and went up 14-9 on a five-run sixth that included a three-run home run by Callahan. Sophomore Kyle Morrill (Auburn, N.H.) and Patnode had a solo home runs in the fifth and eighth innings respectively.

Senior Anthony Cipolla (Glastonbury, Conn.), Doyon, and DiPrato each had three hits for KSC.  DiPrato knocked in four runs.

Sophomore Kyle Savo (West Haven, Conn.) went four-for-five and freshman John Colon (Watertown, Conn.) had three hits and four RBIs, including a  towering three-run home run in the third for the Colonials.

Sophomore Tim Thiesing (South Grafton, Mass.) went the first five innings to get the win (2-1).  WCSU starter Miles Scribner (Washington, Conn.) took the loss.

Keene State plays Curry College at Campanelli field in Brockton, Mass. on Monday.  Western is at Westfield State on Monday.