KEENE, N.H. 4/24/13 — The Keene State College softball team split a Little East Conference doubleheader against rival Plymouth State University at Owl Athletic Complex on Wednesday.

Sophomore Samantha Nitso (Londonderry, N.H.) knocked in the only run of the game with a walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning and freshman pitcher Mariah Crisp (Greenland, N.H.) tossed a complete game three-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts in the Owls' opening game 1-0 win over the Panthers.

Junior Bekah Jackson (Nashua, N.H.) went 3-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored and sophomore Whitney Roberts (Chocorua, N.H.) gave up one run on five hits with three strikeouts and four walks, leading PSU to a 9-1 nightcap win in game that was halted after five innings due to the eight-run rule.

The split leaves Keene State at 19-12 overall and 7-5 in the LEC.  Plymouth State goes to 23-14 (8-4 LEC). 

Scoring opportunities were few in an opening game pitchers dual between Crisp and Panther junior Nora Galvin (Windham, N.H.) in the opener.  PSU left two runners on base in the second and KSC left two runners aboard in the bottom of the inning.

In the seventh with one out, the Owls took advantage of two Panther fielding errors to put runners on first and second.  After junior Molly Dussault (Weare, N.H.) struck out, Nitso lined a single to left field to score pinch runner freshman Heather Pelletier (Auburn, N.H.) with the game-winning run.

"Their pitcher was jamming me all day, so I just trying to get my hands through to hit the ball," said Nitso.  "I knew it was going to get over the third baseman's head and Heather used her speed to score." 

Galvin (6-7), who took the loss, gave up one run on three hits with six strikeouts and one walk.

The Panthers scored two runs in the first inning and single runs in the second and third to take a 4-0 lead in the second game.  Jackson, who had her 19-game hitting streak snapped in the opener, led off the first with a triple and scored on a wild pitch.  PSU scored its second run on an error.

Senior Calli DeGrace (Plymouth, N.H.) had an RBI single in the second and sophomore Cynthia Barata (New Fairfield, Conn.) had an infield single to short that brought home another run in the third.

KSC got its only run in the fourth on a RPI infield single by freshman Anna Glassman (East Granby, Conn.).

Plymouth plated five runs in the top of the fifth to break the game open.  Jackson had the key hit in the inning a three-run triple. An error allowed her to score on the play.  Jackson, who earlier set PSU season records for runs scored, triples, and total bases, set a new school records for RBIs (40) and tied her own season mark for stolen bases (25) in the second game.

KSC had five hits in the second game with freshman Stephanie Long (Salem, N.H.) and Morgan Fallon (Reading, Mass.) hitting doubles.

Juniors Jackie Digman (Burlington, Mass.), Sam Hebert (Manchester, N.H.), freshman Vanessa Przybylo (Queensbury, N.Y.) and DeGrace each finished the game with two hits for the Panthers.

Sophomore Katie Newell (Shoreham, N.Y.) took the loss for the Owls.

Keene State hosts Amherst College on Friday (3:30 p.m.).   Plymouth State hosts Western conn. in a LEC twinbill on Saturday (12 p.m.).