AUBURNDALE, FLA.  3/13/11 – Getting an early wake-up call, the Keene State College baseball team took awhile to get going before coming back to defeat Fairleigh Dickinson (N.J.) University-Florham 10-6 in a early morning game at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale, Florida on Sunday. 

Junior Erik Bergstrom (Enfield Conn.) had another big day at the plate for the Owls, collecting three hits and four RBIs.  Senior Tyler DiPrato (Suffield, Conn.) and junior Larry Longo (Londonderry, N.H.) each had three hits. 

The Owls, who improve to 3-1, scored four runs on four hits in the top of the eighth inning to overcome a 6-2 deficit and pull ahead of the Devils (2-2).  "We did a lot of positive things and also cleaned up the defense," said KSC Coach Ken Howe.  "Bergstrom and Longo are swinging the bats well and coming through with key hits with runners on base."

Keene State fell behind 3-0 in the first inning after a three-run home run by sophomore Nic Core.  The Owls got two runs back in the third on a two-run triple by Bergstrom. 

Falling behind 6-2 after four innings, Keene State began its comeback.  A sacrifice fly by Bergstrom in the fifth made it 6-3, setting the stage for the Owls big sixth inning.  Junior Dan Arsenault, a transfer from Dean College got things started with an RBI single.  After KSC loaded the bases, DiPrato knocked in two runs with a single to right field to tie the score at six-all.  Bergstrom followed with a line shot to left that put the Owls up 7-6.

KSC added three insurance runs in the eighth. Junior Kyle Morrill (Auburn, N.H.) had a RBI single and Arsenault added a two-run base hit. Arsenault, Morrill, and senior Bobby Doyon (Keene, N.H.) each had two hits.  DiPrato and Arsenault also had three RBIs apiece. 

Sophomore Chris Crutcher (Londonderry, N.H.) got the start for the Owls and gave up six runs and six hits while walking two and fanning three in his three-plus innings of work on the mound. 

Sophomore Adam Stanclift (Keene, N.H.), a transfer from St. Joseph's (Me.) had a strong outing, tossing four innings of one hit ball with a couple of strikeouts to notch his first win for Keene State.   "Our bullpen needed to step up today," said Stanclift.  "I was happy to hold the fort and give the team a lift."

"We asked Adam to go in there and give us some zeros and give our offense a chance to bounce back," said Howe. 

Junior Dan Wogksch (Bethel, Conn.) and senior sophomore Tim Quagliaroli (Windsor Locks, Conn.) pitched the eighth and ninth innings respectively, shutting the door.

Keene State takes on 18th ranked Cortland State at Lake Myrtle Park on Monday (1 p.m.).