KEENE, N.H. 4/12/12 – Junior starter Chris Crutcher (Londonderry, N.H.) threw seven strong innings, and senior centerfielder Kyle Morrill (Auburn, N.H.) went four-for-five, as the Keene State College baseball team upended the Westfield State Owls 12-3, in non-conference baseball action at Owl Athletic Complex on Thursday afternoon.

In seven innings, Crutcher allowed just one earned run and scattered five hits with five strikeouts. "Crutch (Crutcher) came out and threw well for us," said KSC head coach Ken Howe. "He commanded the strike zone really well and we put up some runs for him at the plate."

The Londonderry, N.H. native, who had been struggling with his command, only walked two to improve his record to 4-1 on the season. "That was a real quality start," said Morrill of his teammate. "He had been struggling to throw strikes, but we gave him the big lead and he did the rest."

Morrill himself had a great day at the dish, scoring three times, and also driving in three runs and hitting a triple. "We had a tough loss yesterday to Western New England," said Morrill. "The bats came alive for us and we were able to put up the 'W'."

KSC wasted little time hitting the scoreboard, as senior right-fielder Erik Bergstrom (Enfield, Conn.) ripped an RBI double down the left-field line for the 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the first.

In the second, Keene State would add four more, as Morrill's two-RBI triple down the right field line would highlight the inning and give the Owls a 6-0 lead.

Westfield State got on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning, when third-baseman Jeremy Tanguay (Huntington, Mass.) scored on a KSC error to make it 6-1.

The Westfield State Owls added another in the top of the fifth, as right-fielder Andrew Medeiros (Acushnet, Mass.) slapped an RBI triple to deep right field, scoring junior designated-hitter Tim Heintz (Ellington, Conn.) to make it a 7-2 ballgame.

KSC would add two more in the fifth on RBI singles from Tanner Chase (York, Maine) and Vinnie Mangiagli (E. Hartford, Conn.). In the seventh, KSC would tack on three more, as Morrill and Andrew Gummow (Brookline, Mass.) would each have RBI singles to centerfield.

Westfield State would threaten in the eighth, as centerfielder Kevin Greene (Worcester, Mass.) would score on another KSC error, to account for the 12-3 final.

Mangiagli, Chase and Greg Bates (Salem, N.H.) joined Morrill as Owls with multiple hits in the victory. Freshman left-fielder Ian Seawards (Dover, N.H.) led the Owls by scoring four runs in the victory.

Westfield starting shortstop Matt Kelly (Weymouth, Mass.) went three-for-five to lead the visiting Owls at the plate. Medeiros was the only other Westfield player with multiple hits, finishing the day two-for-five with an RBI.

Sophomore Wil Francis (W. Hartford, Conn.) and junior Tim Quagliaroli (Windsor Locks, Conn.) each pitched scoreless innings behind Crutcher in the win for Keene State.

Freshman Sean Ahern (Westfield, Mass.) dropped his first game of the season, only going one and a third innings, allowing five runs on five hits with only one strikeout.

Both teams return to action this Saturday with conference doubleheaders. Keene State hosts LEC rival Rhode Island College at noon at Owl Athletic Complex, while Westfield State hits the road for a MASCAC twin-bill against Framingham State at 1 p.m.