CLERMONT, FLA. 3/16/13 – The Keene State College softball team wrapped up its spring week trip to Florida by splitting its two games at the National Training Center in Clermont, Florida on Saturday.

The Owls, who completed the week with a 4-6 record, began the day by dropping a 14-10 slugfest to Oswego State.  Keene State came back to win the second game  6-3, highlighted by the pitching of freshman Mariah Crisp (Greenland, N.H.) and a grand-slam home run by sophomore Samantha Nitso (Londonderry, N.H.)

"We started out the week very shaky and improved every day," said KSC Coach Charlie Beach about his teams' trip.  ""I think they're improving and getting more self-confident. I'm still moving players around.  No one has bolted out of the starting blocks."

Falling behind Oswego State 3-0, KSC scored five runs in the top of the second to take a 5-3 lead.  Freshman Catherin Tewell (Rochester, N.H.) had a two-run single and freshman Christy McGraw (Hudson, Mass.) had a run-scoring hit in the inning.

Keene State added two more runs in the third and three more in the top of the fourth to extend its lead to 10-6.  Sophomore Sarah Nichols (Sturbridge, Mass.) had a two-run single in the third. Senior Meryl Ragaini (Seymour, Conn.) led off the fourth with her second home run of the trip. Tewell brought in another run with base loaded walk and Nichols scored a run with a fielder's choice.

The Owls, who committed eight errors in the game, lost the lead when the Lakers scored seven runs in the bottom of the fourth to go up 13-10.

Ragaini had three hits in the game with Nichols and Tewell each had two hits and three RBIs.

Sophomore Kellie Saunders (East Hartford, Conn.) was the losing pitcher for Keene State.

Keene State jumped out to a 4-0 first inning lead against Plattsburgh State, courtesy of Nitso's grand slam – the fist of her career. 

The Owls added two more runs in the second to go up 6-0 and held on for the win.  Senior Jessica Fiorenza (Wakefield, Mass.) had a RBI single up the middle and Ragaini doubled down to right center to being in another run.  Ragaini finished the week with a team high nine RBIs.

The Cardinals made things interesting by scoring two runs in the fourth and one more in the sixth innings.

Freshman Stephanie Long (Salem, N.H.) and Fiorenza, the top hitters in the Owls' line-up each had two hits in the game.

Crisp went the distance to pick up the win for KSC.  She gave up three runs while scattering 12 hits to go with seven strikeouts and three walks.  She finished the trip with a 3-2 record and a 1.43 ERA as well as 49 strikeouts. 

Keene State is scheduled to host Husson College next Sunday (12 p.m.).