KEENE, N.H.  4/17/12 – The Keene State softball team dropped the opener 6-1 and played to a 7-7 tie in the second game against Springfield College in a non-conference doubleheader played at Owl Athletic Complex on Tuesday. The second game was called due to darkness.

Keene State's record goes to 15-6-1 while Springfield is 20-10-1.

Sophomore Ashley Mariano (Harrison, N.Y.) tossed a complete game seven- hitter against the Owls in the first game.  Improving her record to 11-5, she struck out six and didn't allow a walk.

Keene State took a 1-0 lead on junior Kayla Joyce's (Bridgewater, Mass.) second home run of the season, a solo shot over the fence in left field. 

The Pride took over from there, scoring three runs in the fourth and single runs in the final three innings.  The Owls didn't help themselves in the field, committing five errors in the game.

Joyce had two of Keene State's seven hits in the game.

Senior Sara Stocklinski (Newton, N.J.) took the loss for the Owls, dropping her record to 6-3.  She pitched 5.2 innings, giving up five runs (just one earned) on four hits with six strikeouts and four walks.

The two teams battled to a wild 7-7 stalemate in the second game. 

Trailing 1-0, KSC scored two runs in the bottom of the first on a two-run single by junior Nicole Dupuis (Fitchburg, Mass.).

After the Pride tied the game in the top of the third, the Owls got the run right back in the bottom of the inning on a RBI double by Dupuis.

Springfield tied the game 3-3 again in the top of the fifth.  Keene State took the lead 4-3 in the bottom of the frame on a single by sophomore Molly Dussault (Weare, N.H.).

Springfield scored a run in the top of the seventh to send the game into extra innings.  With two outs, KSC Coach Charlie Beach brought senior pitcher Sam Pratt (Bristol, Conn.) in to get the final out.  However, freshman Amy Entel (Berkley, Mass.) brought in the tying run with a double to left center.

Both teams had chances to win the game in extra innings.  In the top of the eighth, the Pride went up 5-4 on a on a RBI single by junior Chelsea Bender (Poughkeepsie, N.Y.).  Placed on second to start the inning, KSC freshman Jade Morrison (Windham, N.H.) advanced to third on an error and came home on a wild pitch to knot the score at 5-5.

The Pride took the lead (7-5) once again in the top of the ninth on a two-run single up the middle by Entel.

Coming to bat with two out and the bases loaded, sophomore Ellissa Coburn (Claremont, N.H.) brought in two runs when her pop to the middle of the diamond dropped between two Pride infielders. 

Laura Chandler (Wakefield, Mass.) and Stocklinski each had two hits for Keene State. 

Senior Emily Albin (Bethel, Conn.) started for the Owls, before giving way to Pratt in the seventh.  Albin gave up four runs on six hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. 

Sophomore Jennifer Joseph (Stamford, Conn.) started for the Pride. She allowed four runs on six hits while fanning five and walking five.  Freshman Cassie Cadorette pitched the last four innings, giving up three runs on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks. 

Keene State is at UMass-Boston on Wednesday for a LEC doubleheader.