CLERMONT, FLA.  3/12/12 – After having its first two games rained out on Sunday, the Keene State College softball team finally got on the field on Monday, splitting a pair of games at the Dot Richardson Tournament at Legends Wall ball field in Clermont, Fla. 

After being shutout 8-0 by No. 4 Emory University from Atlanta, Georgia in their first game, the Owls came back to blank SUNY-Fredonia 4-0.

Keene State was limited to just six hits – all singles – against Emory, which up its record to 17-1.  Junior Nicole Dupuis (Fitchburg, Mass.) had two of Keene State's six hits.

Senior Jessica Thomas sparked the Eagles' offense with three hits, including a double, home run along with five RBIs.

Senior Emily Albin (Bethel, Conn.) started for the Owls.  She went three and two-thirds innings, giving up six runs (five earned) on eight hits with one strikeout and three walks.  Freshman Julia Nolan (Weare, N.H.) had an impressive debut in middle relief, tossing two and a third innings of shutout ball with five strikeouts.  Senior Samantha Pratt (Bristol, Conn.) pitched the final inning, allowing two runs.

Senior Sara Stocklinski (Newton, N.J.) pitched six and a third innings of two hit ball and freshman Katie Newell (Shoreham, N.Y.) hit her first collegiate home run to power the Owls over Fredonia State (2-2).

Keene State got single runs in the top of the fourth and fifth innings.  Senior Laura Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) led off the top of the fourth with a triple and scored on a wild pitch.  In the fifth, Haley Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) beat out and infield hit to short, stole second and came home on a hit by through the left side of the infield by Stocklinski.

The Owls added two more runs in the seventh on a two-run home run by Newell, a line shot over the fence in left field. Newell had two of the Owls' eight hits in the game. Freshman Jade Morrison (Windham, N.H.) also had a double.

Stocklinski, who gave back-to-back singles in the third inning, fanned eight and issued three walks to pick up her first win of the season. Nolan and Pratt also saw time in the circle. 

Keene State will play SUNY-Geneseo (9 a.m.) and Mount Ida College (11 a.m.) on Tuesday.