KEENE, N.H. 4/26/11 – Four Owl pitchers combined on a four-hitter to lead Keene State College to a 6-1 win over Curry College in non-conference baseball action at Owl Athletic Complex on Tuesday afternoon. 

Sophomore John Coughlin (Litchfield, N.H.) gave the Owls (24-9) another strong start.  He went 5.1 innings, giving up one run on three hits with a walk to even his record at 2-2.  "I kept the same mentality as I did in my last home win against Plymouth," said Coughlin.  "I threw my fastball. I knew if I hit my spots, they're not going to hit the ball."

Senior Ed Lacourse (Manchester, N.H.) gave up a hit in his 1.2 innings of work while senior Corey Vogt (Suffield, Conn.) and junior Kyle O'Brien each pitched an inning. Vogt fanned two of the four batters he faced in the eighth. "Coughlin is going deeper and deeper into games and then our relievers gave us good performances," said KSC Coach Ken Howe. 

Winner of four of its last five games, Keene State scored a run in the second on an unusual play.  With two out, junior Kyle Morrill (Auburn, N.H.) singled.  On a pick-off attempt, Morrill was able to steal second.  Attempting to throw the ball back to his pitcher, the Colonels shortstop over threw the mound.  In an attempt to stop the rolling ball, the Curry catcher threw his mask at the ball.  The umpire ruled that the catcher had thrown a piece of equipment at a live ball, giving Morrill home plate.  "Coach Dan Moylan yelled right away you can't do that," said Howe.  "If you throw any part of your equipment to stop a ball it's two bases. I've never seen that before, but it's nice to know the rules."

Curry (15-20) tied the game in the top of the fourth on a RBI double by freshman Kyle Connors (Stoughton, Mass.).

Keene State scored two runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to go up 6-1.  Junior Erik Bergstrom (Enfield, Conn.) had a two-run double in the fifth and freshman Matt Boulay (Stafford Springs, Conn.) knocked in two runs with a single to right center in the sixth.

Keene State finished the game with 12 hits. The top three batters in the Owls line-up, sophomore Greg Bates (Salem, N.H.), freshman David Valley (Essex Junction, Vt.) and senior Tyler DiPrato (Suffield, Conn.) along with Morrill each had two hits.  

Senior Mike Hughes (Middleboro, Mass.) took the loss for the Colonels. 

Keene State hosts Colby-Sawyer on Wednesday (3:30 p.m.)