KEENE, N.H  4/15/12 –  The Keene State College softball team salvaged a split against Williams College in a non-conference doubleheader played at Owl Athletic Complex on Sunday. 

Freshman Emma Harrington (Columbus, OH.) tossed a complete game six-hitter with 10 strikeouts to lead Williams to a 5-1 opening game win.  The Owls scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to grind out a 4-3 victory in the second game.

With the split, Keene State goes to 15-5 while Williams is 13-13.

In the first game, Williams took advantage of a wild pitch and passed ball to go up 2-0 in the top of the third.  KSC scored its only run of the game in the bottom of the inning on an RBI infield single by senior Laura Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.).

The Ephs added one more run in the fourth and two more in the sixth.  Freshman Mo Frank (Amherst, Mass.) had a solo home run for Williams in the sixth.

Chandler had three of the Owls six hits in the game.

Sara Stocklinski (Newton, N.H.), who struggled with her command, took the loss for the Owls, going to 6-2. 

Trailing 3-0 in the second game, Keene State got one run back in the bottom of the third inning.  Senior Haley Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) doubled to lead-off the inning. She went to third on a single by senior Katie Bradford (Lebanon, N.H.) and scored on a passed ball.

Junior Jessica Fiorenza (Wakefield, Mass.) and Haley Chandler began the fourth inning, two-out rally with walks. Fiorenza came around to score on an infield error to make it 3-2.  Stocklinski brought home the tying and go-ahead runs with a clutch double to right field.  "I knew she was throwing outside, so I switched up my stance a little bit and just tried to make contact," said Stocklinski. "I trucked it around first and made it to second.  I was really excited."

Bradford, who reached base on the infield error, scored the fourth run.  She just beat the relay throw with her slide into home.  "I didn't think it was going to be that close,' said Bradford.  "They were physical blocking the bases. Fortunately, I was able to get in there."

Senior Emil Albin (Bethel, Conn.) started for the Owls before tiring in the sixth inning.  She gave up three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and two walks, improving her record to 6-2.

Williams threatened to tie the game in the sixth.  The Owls got a break when the Ephs Kaitlin Dinet (Pearl River, N.Y.) was gunned down trying to go to third on a throw from KSC first baseman Haley Chandler.  Senior Samantha Pratt (Bristol, Conn.) took over with two outs and two on in the sixth and induced a key ground out to get out of the jam. "Because I throw a lot of drop balls and there's a very good chance I'm going to get grounders," said Pratt, who picked-up her fourth save of the season.  I have confidence that my teammates are going to make the plays behind me."

The Ephs got one runner on in the top of the seventh, but Pratt and the Owls were able to hang on for the win.

Keene State mustered just five hits in the second game with Haley Chandler and Stocklinski coming through with key doubles. 

Senior Allison Hart (Roswell, Ga.) had three hits for Williams.  Sophomore Megan Casey (Greenwood, Village, Co.) took the loss for the Ephs.  She gave up four runs on five hits with nine strikeouts and five walks. 

"I think we did a real good job of hanging in there," said Bradford.  "We spent a lot of energy yesterday with the wins against Western Conn., and it was inspiring to come back and push through and come out with the win."

"We're great when we get behind sometimes," said Stocklinski.  "We did it yesterday in the first game against Western Conn. and did the same thing today."  We're a strong team."

Keene State hosts Springfield College in a make-up non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday (3:30 p.m.).