KEENE, N.H.  4/12/11 – Solid pitching and timely hitting proved to be a winning combination for the Keene State College baseball team in its 8-1 Little East Conference victory over rival Plymouth State University at Owl Athletic Complex on Tuesday afternoon.  Due to unplayable field conditions in Plymouth, the game was moved to Keene. 

            Sophomore John Coughlin (Litchfield, N.H.) tossed seven innings of two-hit ball and junior Kyle Morrill (Auburn, N.H.) belted a grand-slam home run in a six-run fourth inning for the Owls (16-6, 3-2 LEC), who have won three straight. 

            "Plymouth is in our conference and gives us a fight every year," said Coughlin.  "It's a rival game, so you get pumped to pitch against them."

            Plymouth State (5-17, 0-5 LEC) took advantage of a couple of KSC errors to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning.  The Owls scored two run in the third inning to take a lead they wouldn't relinquish.  Senior Tyler DiPrato (Suffield, Conn.) had a seeing-eye RBI single up the middle and junior Larry Longo (Londonderry, N.H.) brought in the second round on a ground out. 

            In the sixth, the Owls loaded the bases on singles by juniors Dan Arsenault (Dover, N.H.) and Juan Bisono (New Britain, Conn.) and freshman Nick Vita.  Morrill cleared the bases, sending a 3-2 pitch over the left field for his first home run of the season.  "I was just trying to elevate the ball and get it into the outfield, but luckily I got enough of the ball to get it out," said Morrill. 

            "Kyle had a very good at bat. He fouled off quite a few good pitches and worked the count," said KSC Coach Ken Howe. 

            The Owls were done just yet.  Senior Bobby Doyon (Keene, N.H.) followed with a double down the left field line.  He stole third and came home on a RBI single through the right side by DiPrato.  DiPrato advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single up the middle by junior Erik Bergstrom (Enfield, Conn.).

            Meanwhile Coughlin was doing his job on the mound.  Settling down after giving up the run in the first, Coughlin retired 17 straight batters before junior Luke Merrill (Pittsburgh, N.H.) reached base on a single with one out in the seventh inning.   

"My fast ball was working today. I mixed it up with a couple of curve ball and they just hit it on the ground a lot," said Coughlin, who had one strikeout, evening his record to 1-1.

            "John was on cruise control, pounding the zone and throwing strikes good quality strikes," said Howe.

            Freshmen Pat Tempone (Francestown, N.H.) and Shawn Egan (East Hartford, Conn.) each worked a scoreless inning.

           DiPrato and Bergstrom each finished with three hits while Vita had a couple of singles.

           PSU were held to three hits with freshman Jeff Runnals (Wolfeboro, N.H.) junior Mike Cappiello (Westfield, N.J.) and Merrill all with singles.

          Junior Bobby Chatfield (Sharon, Conn.), who goes to 0-4, took the loss for the Panthers.   He went the first four innings, allowing eight run on 12 hits with two strikeouts.

         KSC has dominated the series of late, winning the last 16 games between the two teams.

         The Owls and Panthers play non-conference games on Friday. Keene State hosts Western New England and Plymouth State is at Salem State.  Both games begin at 3:30 p.m.