CLERMONT, FLA.  3/13/11 – The Keene State College softball team opened its season with a pair of impressive wins at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida on Sunday. 

The Owls defeated Salve Regina (R.I.) University 11-1 in a five inning game and beat St. Joseph's (Conn.) College 10-2 in their second game, playing in the Dot Richardson Tournament. KSC banged out a combined 29 hits and had two complete pitching performances in the circle.

"Although we were rough around the edges, you can't complain about the start," said KSC Coach Charlie Beach.  "I always expect this team to hit well and they didn't disappoint me."

Junior Haley Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) had a RBI single in the second and sophomore Nicole Dupuis (Fitchburg, Mass.) added a run-scoring double in the third to give KSC a 4-1 lead in the opener against the Seahawks (0-3).  The Owls broke the game open in the fifth, plating seven runs on six hits.  Junior Haley Botti (Dracut, Mass.), Dupuis, and Chandler had RBI hits and sophomore Jess Fiorenza (Wakefield, Mass.) added a two-run double in the rally.

Haley Chandler and Dupuis each had three hits while junior Sara Stocklinski (Newton, N.J.), junior Laura Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) Fiorenza all had two hits.

Stocklinski pitched a complete game five hitter to pick up her first win of the season. She gave up one run while fanning eight and issuing one walk.

Keene State batters remained hot in the second game, collecting 15 more hits in the seven inning win over the Blue Jays (0-3). 

Keene State's first home run of the season, a solo shot to left by Haley Chandler gave the Owls a 1-0 lead in the third.  Falling behind 2-1, KSC tied the game in the sixth on a perfectly executed push bunt by junior Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.) and a double off the bat of junior Samantha Pratt (Bristol, Conn.).

The Owls used the big inning to put the game away, scoring eight runs on nine hits in the seventh inning.  KSC played small ball, taking advantage of a series of singles and a double by Haley Chandler to overtake St. Joseph's.

Haley Chandler, who was six-for-nine in the two games, and Pratt each had three hits and Bradford a couple of singles to lead the Owls at the plate. 

Junior Emily Albin (Bethel. Conn.) got the complete game win in the circle.  She allowed two run on two hits while striking out 11, (one shy of her career high) and walking three batters.

Keene State plays a couple of SUNY schools on Monday, facing SUNY-Geneseo at 9:30 a.m. and going up against SUNY-Plattsburgh at 11:30 a.m.