PLYMOUTH, N.H. 4/17/12 – After opening up the game with two straight hits, including an RBI single to right-centerfield from senior Kyle Morrill (Auburn, N.H.), the Keene State College baseball team was held hitless against in-state and Little East Conference rival, Plymouth State in a 4-1 loss on Tuesday afternoon at Panther Park.

KSC splits the season series with the rival Panthers, after defeating PSU 9-2 back on April 10th, and falls to 21-9 overall and 6-2 in LEC play. Plymouth earned just their second conference win of the season (2-6) and improved to 12-15 overall on the year.

Leading off the game for KSC, junior third baseman Greg Bates (Salem, N.H.) cracked a double to left centerfield to set up Morrill's RBI-single.

The Panthers wasted little time evening the game and in the bottom of the first inning, senior Luke Merrill (Pittsburg, N.H.) hit an RBI double to right-center to tie the game at one apiece.

The only other base-runners for the Owls came in the top of the third inning, as Plymouth starting pitcher Jeff Runnals (Wolfeboro, N.H.) would issue back-to-back walks to lead off the inning. But Runnals would settle down, inducing a line-out and two-groundball outs to end the threat.

In the bottom half of the inning Panther senior first-baseman Mike Cappiello (Westfield, N.J.) would give the home-team the lead for good, with his one-out homer to right center for the 2-1 lead.

Plymouth would add a run in the sixth and seventh innings on an RBI double from Brendan Cosgrove (Merrimack, N.H.) and a sacrifice-fly from Rew Wilson (Niantic, Conn.) for the 4-1 final.

Runnals went five innings allowing the two KSC hits, one run and two walks. Senior reliever Bobby Chatfield (Sharon, Conn.) pitched four perfect innings to earn his first save of the season.

Owl starter John Coughlin (Litchfield, N.H.) went five innings, allowing nine Panther hits and three runs while striking out two to drop to 2-2 on the season. Sophomore reliever Pat Tempone (Francestown, N.H.) pitched three innings allowing two hits and an unearned run, while striking out three.

The Owls return to action tomorrow, as they will host Brandeis University at 3:30 p.m. at Owl Athletic Complex.