LAKE WALES, FLA.  3/17/12 – The Keene State College baseball team put together a late-game rally to defeat Roger Williams University 6-1 at Warner University in Lake Wales, Florida on Saturday.  The Owls completed their Spring Week trip with a 6-4 mark and head back north with an 8-5 overall record. 

Keene State threatened to score a couple to times early in the game, but it was Roger Williams (3-8) that finally broke through with the first run of the game in the top of the fifth inning.  Freshman Chris Travers doubled.  He was sacrificed over to third and scored on a passed ball.

The Owls took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the seventh.  KSC played small ball to get its first run.  Freshman Tanner Chase (York, Me.) opened the inning with a single.  He moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Matt Boulay (Stafford Spring, Conn.) and came home on junior Greg Bate's (Salem, N.H.) line shot up the middle.  The Owls loaded the bases and senior Peter Burgio (Bolton, Conn.) brought in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly.

Keene State broke the game open with a four-run eighth inning.  With runners on first and second, freshman pinch-hitter Chuck Vogt (Windsor Locks, Conn.) lined a two-run double down the left field line.  "The count was 0-2, so I was just looking to fight pitches off," said Vogt.  "But the next pitch came back right over the plate. I just swung, made some good contact and poked it out to left field."

Bates reached on an error, stole second and scored on a single to center by senior Kyle Morrill (Auburn, N.H.) to make it 5-1.  Senior Erik Bergstorm (Enfield, Conn.) brought in the Owls' final run with a single to right center. 

"Their pitcher kept us off balance early on, but we did a good job grinding it out," said KSC Coach Ken Howe.  "We made some adjustments, started to hit the ball where it was pitched and got some key late-inning hits."

Morrill had three of the Owls' 11 hits in the game.

It was the second quality start for senior Tim Thiesing (South Grafton, Mass.), who improved his record to 2-0 on the season.  He went eight innings, giving up just one run on three hits with a strikeout and three walks.  "We had a tough day against St. Joseph's yesterday, so I just wanted to throw strikes and give us a chance to win," Thiesing said.  "I knew we'd scratch together a couple of runs if I kept us in the game."

"What else can you say about Timmy's performance?" said Howe.  "He pounded the zone all day.  They were putting the ball in play and we played good defense behind him."

Junior Joe Katin (Byfield, Mass.) pitched the ninth inning and preserved the win.

Howe had mixed feelings about his teams' play during the trip.  "We didn't play badly, but we made some young mistakes," he said.  "I thought defensively we struggled.  Overall the pitching staff did a good job and the bats were up and down.  We can play a lot better."

Howe said the team is looking forward to coming home.  "I hear the field is in good shape and ready for our game against Springfield on Wednesday," Howe said.  "The long range forecast looks good.  I'm looking forward to bringing some of this nice warm weather back with us."