BABSON PARK, MASS. 3/28/12 – In a game played in fall-like weather conditions, the Keene State College baseball team beat Babson College by the football-like score of 21-6 at Govoni Field on Wednesday afternoon.  It was the most runs scored by the Owls since defeating UMass-Dartmouth 22-6 in the 2009 season.

            Keene State, which has won both of its games since returning from Florida, improves to 10-5.  Babson falls to 7-8.

            "We got some run production from the top to the bottom of the order today," said KSC Coach Ken Howe.  We hit the ball hard all day, even the outs were loud.  The ball either found green grass or ended up over the wall." 

            The Owls, who hit three home runs and sprayed 20 hits around the park, used the big inning against the Beavers.  Keene State wasted no time, plating three runs in the top of the first inning on a RBI double from senior Kyle Morrill (Auburn, N.H.) and a two-run single up the middle by sophomore Nick Vita (Spofford, N.H.).

            Keene State scored four more runs in the third with senior Peter Burgio (Bolton, Conn.) providing the big blast, a three run home run over the fence in left center field.  "The first two guys got on before me, so I knew he was going to try to get a first pitch fast ball over the plate," said Burgio about his second home run of the season.  "I just wanted to be aggressive and get a hit.  I knew it was gone once I hit it."

            The hits just kept on coming for the Owls, who added five more runs in the fifth.  Freshman Chuck Vogt (Windsor Locks, Conn.)  delivered a two-run single down the left field line and senior Erik Bergstrom (Enfield, Conn.) brought two more runs home with a double to right center.

            A six-run sixth inning featured a lead-off home run by Vita, his first of the season, a RBI single by freshman Tyler Estevez (East Hartford, Conn.) and freshman Ian Seaward's (Dover, N.H.) first college dinger, a three-run shot that made it over the fence in left field.  "Their pitcher just left me a high fastball over the plate," said Seaward.  "I didn't think it was a home run, so I kept on running hard.  It felt great.  I've been working hard. When I get a chance to play, I try to make the most of it." 

            After Babson got four runs in the bottom of the inning, Keene State came back with three runs in the top of the eighth.

            Morrill had a big day at the plate, finishing with four hits, five runs and three RBIs for the Owls.  Vita got three hits while senior Greg Bates (Salem, N.H.), Bergstrom, and Vogt each had two hits.

            Junior Pitcher Chris Crutcher (Londonderry, N.H.), who improves to 3-1, was the recipient of the offensive explosion.  He went the first five innings, giving up two runs on five hits.  He walked five and didn't have a strikeout.   Sophomores Dan Osorio (Manchester, N.H.), Vinnie Mangiagli (East Hartford, Conn.), Shawn Egan (East Hartford, Conn.) and senior Nick Winn (West Hartford, Conn.) followed him to the mound.

            Keene State is scheduled to begin its Little East schedule at Western Conn. on Saturday.  The game might be moved off the Colonials' campus due to construction on their field.