FITCHBURG, Mass. 4/19/12 – Continuing to hit the ball well, the Keene State College baseball team cracked 15 hits and scored 17 runs en-route to a 17-6 non-conference victory over Fitchburg State on Thursday afternoon at Riccards Field.

Leading the way from the top of the lineup, freshman shortstop Tanner Chase (York, Maine) went 2-for-3 with two runs, two walks and four RBI's. Senior designated-hitter Peter Burgio (Bolton, Conn.) finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI's out of the cleanup spot.

Also compiling multiple hits, Kyle Morrill (Auburn, N.H.), Larry Longo (Londonderry, N.H.) and Tyler Estevez (East Hartford, Conn.) each went 2-for-5, while sophomore Andrew Gummow (Brookline, Mass.) went 2-for-4 to round out the Owls with multiple hits.

On the hill for the KSC, the reigning Little East Conference pitcher of the week, junior Chris Crutcher (Londonderry, N.H.) went six innings, allowing six hits and two runs while striking out six, to improve to 5-1 on the season. Nick Winn (West Hartford, Conn.), Joe Katin (Byefield, Mass.) and Chuck Vogt (Windsor Locks, Conn.) each pitched an inning of relief in the win.

After the Owls crossed the plate in the top of the second, KSC piled on five runs in the top of the fourth. Chase and Morrill each had two-RBI hits in the inning to stake the Owls out to a 6-0 lead.

Keene State added three more in the in the top of the sixth to make it 9-2, the Owls erupted for seven more in the seventh. Longo started the rally with a solo homer to left-centerfield. Later in the inning, Chase earned a bases-loaded walk for the RBI, and Burgio ripped a two-RBI single to push the advantage to 16-2.

In his first at-bat of the game, senior Erik Bergstrom (Enfield, Conn.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the eighth to account for the Owls 17th run.

Fitchburg was led by Randy Ortiz (Danielson, Conn.) and Chris Rivera (New Britain, Conn.), each going 3-for-4 at the plate with two RBI's.

Falcons starter Tynan Flegg (Calgary, AB) only managed to go two innings, allowing one run and striking out two. Zachary Bombria (Bolton, Conn.) took the brunt of the damage, allowing 10 runs in three innings on nine hits with three strikeouts.

The Owls return to action on Saturday, as they will travel to UMass Boston for a doubleheader set to begin at Noon.