WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS.  4/21/11 – The Keene State College softball team defeated Williams College 8-2 in the first game and tied the Ephs 2-2 in the nightcap called after seven innings due to darkness in a non-conference doubleheader at Cole Field on Thursday. 

            Tied for third in the most recent New England poll, Keene State (24-7-1) is 8-1-1 in its last 10 games.  Williams goes to 11-11-1.

            Junior Haley Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) led off the first game with a double.  She moved to third on an error and stole home to give KSC a 1-0 lead in the first.

            After Williams answered with two run in the bottom of the inning, tied the game at 2-all in the second when freshman Molly Dussault (Weare, N.H.) scored on a fielder's choice play.

            KSC put the game away by scoring three runs in the fourth and sixth innings.  Junior Samantha Pratt (Bristol, Conn.) hit a solo home run, her first of the season, and junior Laura Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) had a two-run single to left in the fourth.  Laura Chandler blasted a three-run home run, her second round-tripper of the season in the sixth.

            Keene State finished the game with 12 hits.  Haley and Laura Chandler each had three hits.  Laura Chandler drove in five runs.  Sophomores Kayla Joyce (Bridgewater, Mass.) and Jessica Fiorenza (Wakefield, Mass.) each had two hits.

            Junior Emily Albin (Bethel, Conn.) got the win to improve her record to 10-3.  She went six innings, giving up three runs on five hits with nine strikeouts and one walk.

            Keene State scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the second game at two-all.  Williams scored both of its runs in the first inning.

            The Owls loaded the bases in the seventh on singles by junior Maura Bergan (Manchester, Conn.) and freshman Julia Gray (Windham, N.H.) and a walk to Fiorenza. With one out, Laura Chandler brought in one run with an infield single second.  Junior Sara Stocklinski (Newton, N.H.) plated the tying run with a sacrifice fly. 

            Laura Chandler, who had two of the Owls' five hits in the second game, went a combined 5-8 in the twinbill. 

            Stocklinski tossed the first 5.2 innings for KSC, allowing two runs on five hits with four strikeouts and one walk.  Pratt pitched took over in the sixth pitching 1.1 innings of hitless ball with one walk.

            Keene State will travel to Southern Maine for a Little East doubleheader on Friday (3 p.m.).  Originally scheduled for Saturday, the twinbill was moved up due to pending poor weather on Saturday.