AUBURN, N.Y. 5/21/10 – Keene State College saw its season come to a close with a 5-2 loss to Oneonta State in the NCAA Division III baseball regional tournament at Falcon Park on Friday morning.
The fifth seeded Owls, who posted a 1-2 mark in the tournament, conclude their season with a 27-17-1 record. Oneonta (30-12), the third seed, will play the winner of the game between Castleton State/Farmingdale State later today.
Disappointed that his team was unable to advance, KSC Coach Ken Howe said it was a successful season. "The season doesn't always end the way any coach wants it unless you're handed the national championship ring," he said. "But I'm very proud the way the guys played this season. Once you get the NCAA tournament there are some very good teams and we need to continue to work and get better."
Keene State took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning on an RBI single by senior Jesse Cahill (Cranston, R.I.) and a fielding error.
The Red Dragons came right back with two runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the score.
Oneonta took the lead in the sixth on senior Dan Randall's RBI single to left center field. The Red Dragon's plated two more runs in the eighth on a sacrifice fly and run-producing single by junior Michael Center.
Junior Bobby Doyon (Keene, N.H.) had a one out double in the eighth and sophomore Kyle Morrill (Auburn, N.H.) had a two-base hit in the ninth, but both runners were stranded.
Morrill picked up two of the Owls' five hits in the game.
Randall knocked in three runs and senor Carmine Caputo; the Red Dragon's lead-off man had three hits.
Senior Jeff Raymond (Amston, Conn.) had a solid start for KSC, scattering eight hits over seven innings with four strikeouts. He finishes his season with a 2-5 record.
Senior Brett Meservey (4-2) was the winning pitcher for Oneonta.
"The players, especially the seniors, were pretty emotional after the game," said Howe. "The seniors from this year's team have been to the NCAA tournament three out of the past four years. That says a lot about what they've done and brought to the table."
