WINTER HAVEN, Florida 3/16/12 – After jumping out to a 1-0 lead early in the ball game, the Keene State College baseball team fell to regional rival Saint Joseph's College of Maine, 8-2, at the Chain of Lakes Field Complex in Winter Haven, Florida on Friday afternoon.

The Owls, who drop to 7-5 on the season, committed three errors in the game and couldn't get back into the game. "St. Joe's is a very talented club," said KSC head coach Ken Howe. "I am just disappointed with the way we played defensively today behind our pitchers."

In the top of the first inning the Owls jumped on the board first, as senior captain Erik Bergstrom (Enfield, Conn.) singled down the left field line scoring junior third-baseman Greg Bates (Salem, N.H.) for the early 1-0 lead.

The Monks came firing back in the next half inning, scoring three runs, with sophomore designated hitter Alex Markakis (Lynnfield, Mass.) driving in two runs on an RBI single, to give St. Joe's a 3-1 lead.

In the bottom of the second and third, the Monks added one run in each inning on Keene State errors.

KSC freshman left fielder Ian Seawards (Dover, N.H.) cut into the lead with an RBI groundout scoring senior Larry Longo (Londonderry, N.H.) to make it 5-2 in favor of St. Joe's.

But that is as close as the Owls would get, as St. Joe's would add runs in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings, for the 8-2 non-conference loss.

Junior starter Eric Perrault (Salem, N.H.) started the game, allowing three earned runs in an inning and two thirds while striking out two before leaving the game with an injury. Relievers Nick Winn (West Hartford, Conn.) and Pat Tempone (Francestown, N.H.) each went three-plus inning in relief for KSC, each allowing two runs.

St. Joe's starter Chad Rafferty (Keene, N.H.) went seven innings allowing just three Keene State hits, walking four and striking out three to improve to 2-0 on the season.

"Rafferty, a Keene kid, threw a great ball game against us," said Howe. "We had him on the ropes early, but couldn't get the big hit when we needed it and then he settled down."

Sophomore reliever Nick Whittaker (Yarmouth, Maine) pitched the final two innings without allowing a hit and fanning three.

Bates, Bergstrom and sophomore Nick Vita (Spofford, N.H.) collected the three total hits for the Owls on the game. The Monks had six players collect two or more hits, with Markakis finishing with a game-high three RBI's.

The Owls will conclude their spring break trip tomorrow with a game against regional rival Roger Williams at Warner University at 11 a.m. "Roger Williams is another quality team," said Howe. "We will look to put in a better effort tomorrow."