KEENE, N.H. 4/21/11 – Keene State College defeated Fitchburg State University 11-9 in non-conference baseball action at windy Owl Athletic Complex on Thursday.

            Batting lead-off for the Owls, sophomore Greg Bates (Salem, N.H.) had three hits, one RBI and scored three runs.  Senior Tyler DiPrato (Suffield, Conn.) and junior Erik Bergstrom (Enfield, Conn.) also had good days at the plate. DiPrato went 2-3 with three RBIs and three runs while Bergstrom was 2-3 with two RBIs.

            Jeff Boice (Glastonbury, Conn.) had three hits and three RBIs for Fitchburg (13-14).

            "It was tough conditions today with the wind and cold, but we'll take the win," said KSC Coach Ken Howe. 

            KSC (22-8) jumped out to a 3-0 in the first inning with DiPrato and Bergstom delivering run-scoring hits. 

            The Falcons scored four in the third inning to go up 4-3.  Boice had a key two-run single in the inning.  KSC tied the game in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Bergstrom.  FSU added a single run in the in the fourth and another in the fifth inning on an RBI single from Boice to go up 6-4. 

            Keene State got one run back in the bottom of the fifth and scored three runs in the sixth to take a 8-6 lead.  DiPrato brought in two runs in the sixth with a single to left field.  "Fitchburg is one of those teams that can sneak up on you," said DiPrato.  "Fortunately, we kept the runs coming and our pitchers got some big outs to keep us in the game."

            Junior Kyle Morrill (Auburn, N.H.) had an RBI single and Bates drove in another run with a triple into the corner in right field in a three-run seventh inning for the Owls.

            Looking to get back in the game, the Falcons scored single runs in the eighth and ninth innings.  Freshman Shawn Egan (East Hartford, Conn.), the fourth pitcher used by KSC, got out of a jam in the ninth.  With one out and runners on first and third, Egan got sophomore Cody Bamforth (Vernon, Conn.) to pop out to second baseman David Valley (Essex Junction, Vt.). Valley threw over to first when the Falcon runner couldn't get back to complete the double play and end the ball game.

          Junior Nick Winn (West Hartford, Conn.), who took over for freshman starter Pat Tempone (Francestown, N.H.) in the third, picked up his first win (1-0) for KSC. He went four innings, allowing three runs on five hits with one walk.

         Freshman Pat Mercier (Townsend, Mass.) took the loss for the Falcons.

        Keene State host UMass-Boston in a key Little East Conference doubleheader on Friday (1 p.m.). "We have a big doubleheader tomorrow against UMass-Boston," said Howe. They started off slow, but they're running on all cylinders now." 

       "We're going into the doubleheader thinking we have to sweep out our last six conference games," said DiPrato.  "Boston is a good team, but hopefully we go out there and play our game and hope for the best."