SPRINGFIELD, Mass. 3/29/11 – The Keene State College softball team earned a split with regional foe Springfield College in their first action since returning from their spring break trip. The Owls took game one 6-3 behind a strong pitching performance from junior hurler Emily Albin (Bethel, Conn.), before falling 7-6 on a walk-off single from Pride infielder Tess Gagliano in game two on Tuesday evening as darkness approached.

"Albin pitched real well in game one," said KSC head coach Charlie Beach. "I thought we hit the ball real well today as well, but we haven't been outside to practice since our Florida trip and we dropped some routine balls in the field. You have to give credit to Springfield, they got it done in the second game."

In game one, the Owls put together a four-run first inning and held on behind Albin's complete game. Junior designated player Courtney Savoie (Exeter, N.H.) cracked  a three run homer, the first of her career, to help put KSC out to a 4-0 lead.

SC came back with one in the bottom of the first, but Keene State added a run in the fourth and fifth innings to take 6-1 lead. SC's two in the bottom of the sixth were not enough as the Owls came away with the 6-3 non-conference win.

Albin hurled a complete game victory for the Owls. In seven innings, she gave up seven hits and three runs, just one of which was earned. She also walked one and struck out two to improve her record to 3-2 on the season.

Owl freshman second baseman Molly Dussault (Weare, N.H.) went 3-for-4 with one RBI for Keene State. Junior shortstop Haley Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI. Chandler also hit a round-tripper during the contest for her second of the season.

In the second game, Springfield took a 5-1 lead after two innings, and seemingly had the game well in control, up 6-1, entering the top of the fifth. But Keene State scored three in the fifth, and added two in the seventh on a clutch two-out, two-run double by sophomore catcher Nicole Dupuis (Fitchburg, Mass.) to even the game at 6-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh.

In the bottom half, with the sun setting very quickly, third baseman Tess Gagliano, who earlier in the day was named NEWMAC Player of the Week and ECAC Division III New England Player of the Week, lined a single through the left side to win the game.

Dupuis had a career-high five RBI's by going two-for-four with two doubles. Sophomore outfielder Jessica Fiorenza (Wakefield, Mass.) went one-for-two with two runs scored and two walks.

Junior Sara Stocklinski (Newton, N.J.) got the start in game two going two innings and allowing seven hits and five runs in the no-decision. Savoie went the final four and a third innings allowing two unearned runs on six hits with three strikeouts in the losing effort. "Savoie pitched well for us in relief but we couldn't make the plays behind her," said Beach.

The Owls return to action Thursday, with a road doubleheader at Fitchburg State starting at 3 p.m.

(Courtesy Springfield Sports Information)