FARMINGDALE, N.Y.  3/4/11 – Junior Dan Arsenault (Hot Springs, Ariz.) knocked in a couple of runs and sophomore Chris Crutcher (Londonderry, N.H.) and junior Jeff Pelkey (Fitzwilliam, N.H.) combined on a five-hitter to lead the Keene State College baseball team to a season-opening 7-1 victory over St. Joseph's (L.I.) College at the Farmingdale Tournament on Friday night.

"You couldn't ask more of Crutcher.  He was in total command," said KSC Coach Ken Howe.  "We also had some timely hits and capitalized on their mistakes."

Making his first start for the Owls, Crutcher, a transfer from Southern New Hampshire University, tossed six innings of three hit ball.  He fanned 11, including the side in the sixth and didn't issue a walk.  Pelkey took over in the seventh inning and picked up the save.  He allowed one run on two hits.

Keene State took a 2-0 lead in the first on a RBI single from senior Bobby Doyon (Keene, N.H.) and a sacrifice fly by Arsenault.  Doyon led off the third with a double and came home on an opposite field single to right by junior Erik Bergstrom (Enfield, Conn.). In the sixth, Arsenault singled through the right side and later came around to score on an error by the Golden Eagles. 

The Owls added two more runs in the seventh on bases loaded walks and scored their final run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly by junior Larry Longo (Londonderry, N.H.).

Keene State finished the game with 10 hits.  Doyon went 3-for-5 and Bergstrom was 2-for-2 at the plate.

Keene State plays host Farmingdale State on Saturday (10 a.m.).