KEENE, N.H. 4/16/11 – The Keene State College softball team split a doubleheader with Rhode Island College in a battle of top New England teams at Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday.  Senior Chelsi Panarelli (Shrewsbury, Mass.) and junior Christina Bailey (Londonderry, N.H.) both homered to lead second-ranked RIC to a 5-1 win in the first game.  Junior Courtney Savoie (Stratham, N.H.) tossed a complete game five-hitter to lead third-ranked Keene State to a 1-0 shutout win in the second game. 

            The victory in the opener was a school record 23rd consecutive win for the Anchorwomen (23-4, 5-1 LEC).  The Owls (21-7, 4-2 LEC) snapped RIC's win streak in the second game.

            Senior Donielle Matoon's (Coventry, R.I.) RBI single in the third inning gave RIC a 1-0 lead.  The Anchorwomen added an unearned run in the top of the fifth to go up 2-0.

            KSC got it only run of the game in the bottom of the frame on a RBI single through the right side by junior Haley Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.).

            Bailey homered and freshman Stacey Pokora (Wilton, Conn.) knocked in a run in the sixth and Panarelli went deep in the seventh.

            Keene State finished the game with four hits.  Junior Emily Albin (Bethel, Conn.) took the loss (8-3). She went 5.1 innings giving up four runs on six hits with two strikeouts and one walk.

            Senior Amanda Berard (Swansea, Mass.) who took over in the third inning, picked up the win for RIC. She pitched 4.2 innings, giving up one run on four with three strikeouts and one walk to improve her record to 8-0.

            Savoie was the story in the nightcap.  The junior scattered five hits and fanned three to improve her record to 4-4. "I went out there today with a new attitude,' said Savoie.  "I've been struggling for the past few games, but today I took it pitch-by-pitch and inning-by-inning."

            "Courtney is a pretty experienced pitcher and cagey and that's the kind of performance we expected from her," said KSC Coach Charlie Beach.  "She was on her game, pitching a one-run game against team like RIC is really a tough thing to do."

            The Owls scored the only run of the game with two outs in the fifth inning. Haley Chandler, junior Sara Stocklinski (Newton, N.J.) and Laura Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) hit consecutive singles to lead the bases.  Sophomore Nicole Dupuis (Fitchburg, Mass.)  brought in the go-ahead run when she was hit by a pitch.  "They've been pitching me out side all game, so I figured if I crowded the plate, she'd come inside on me I could get my hands out and hit a good pitch," said Dupuis.  "But she came real inside and nailed me.  I didn't have a chance to move. I'm sore, but I'll take it for the win."

            Laura Chandler finished with two of the Owls' six hits in the game.

            Senior Kayla Jandreau (Plainville, Conn.) and Mattoon each had two hits for the Anchorwomen.  Junior Kyla Puccini (North Dighton, Mass.), who allowed one run and six hits, took the loss (6-2) for RIC.

           Between games, Beach was presented with a plaque to commemorate his 600th career victory he earned earlier this season.

           Keene State hosts UMass-Boston on Tuesday (3:30 p.m.).