CLERMONT, FLA. 3/11/13 – The Keene State College softball team began its Spring Week trip to Florida by dropping both its games at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla. on Monday.  The Owls (0-2) lost their first game 2-1 to RPI and suffered a 15-2 setback to the College of New Jersey in their second game.

The game against RPI was scoreless until the top of the fourth inning when Keene State took a 1-0 lead.  Senior Meryl Ragaini (Seymour, Conn.) opened the inning with a walk and came home on a double to left field by senior Nicole Dupuis (Fitchburg, Mass.).  Dupuis had the only hit for KSC in the game.

The Engineers (2-3) tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning and scored the go-ahead run in the eighth.

The loss spoiled the debut of Keene State freshman pitcher Mariah Crisp (Greenland, N.H.).  She pitched 7.2 innings allowing two runs on two hits with 10 strikeouts and two walks.

The College of New Jersey scored six runs in the top of the first inning on the way to defeating Keene State in the second game that was halted after five innings.

The Owls got their two runs in the bottom of the third inning on a two-run double by senior Jess Fiorenza (Wakefield, Mass.).

Freshman Katie Newell (Shoreham, N.Y.) was the losing pitcher for KSC.

The Owls face Simmons College and the College of St. Scholastica from Duluth, Minn. in Clermont, Fla. on Tuesday.