KEENE, N.H.  4/5/12 – The Keene State College baseball team extended its winning streak to nine games with a 15-1 non-conference win over Framingham State University at Owl Athletic Complex on Thursday. The game was originally scheduled to be played at FSU, but was moved to Keene.

            The Owls (16-5), who have scored double figures runs in six out of their last seven games, improve to 16-5.  The Rams (11-10) dropped their third straight game. 

            Leading 2-0, the Owls broke the game open with a five-run fifth inning. Seniors Kyle Morrill (Auburn, N.H.) and Erik Bergstrom (Enfield, Conn.) had RBI hits and sophomore Nick Vita (Spofford, N.H.).  belted an opposite field three-run home run over the fence in right.  "I always let the ball get as deep as possible and when I'm doing that it's only natural that the ball goes the other way," said Vita, who leads the Owls with three home runs. 

            Keene State added two more runs in the sixth on a RBI single by senior Greg Bates (Salem, N.H.) and a double by Morrill down the right field line.

            Senior Larry Longo (Londonderry, N.H.) highlighted a five-run eighth inning with a two-run double to right center. 

            The Owls continued to tear the cover off the ball, banging out 14 hits in the game.  Sophomore Matt Boulay (Stafford Springs, Conn.) and Morrill led the hit parade with three hits each.  Freshman Tanner Chase (York, Me.), Bates, and Vita each had two hits. Vita finished the game with four RBIs.

            "We're really feeding off each other," said Vita.  "One through nine everyone is hitting the ball. Hopefully, we can take that into this weekend."

            KSC Coach Ken Howe once again went to his bullpen to find a pitcher to start the game. Sophomore Shawn Egan (East Hartford, Conn.) tossed four innings of two hit ball with couple of strikeouts and a walk.  Sophomore Will Francis (West Hartford, Conn.) was also effective in his three inning stint, giving up just one hit while fanning a couple of batters.  "Coach told me that he was going to call on me to help out the team, so I was ready to go in," said Francis. "We don't have as much pitching as we did last year, so you got to be ready when the coach calls your name."

            Sophomores Vinnie Mangiagli (East Hartford, Conn.) and Dan Osorio (Manchester, N.H.) each pitched an inning of relief.

            Freshman Zach Kirby (Rochester, Mass.) took the loss for the Rams.

            Keene State heads down to Eastern Conn. State on Saturday for a key Little East doubleheader against the Warriors.