KEENE, N.H. 5/8/13 - Junior Molly Dussault (Weare, N.H.) knocked in the go-ahead runs with an infield single in the third inning and sophomore pitcher Katie Newell (Shoreham, N.Y.) recovered from a tough first inning to get the complete game win in the circle, leading third Keene State College to a come-from-behind 6-3 win over sixth seed the University of New England in a first-round game of the ECAC Division III New England Softball Tournament at Owl Athletic Complex on Tuesday.

Keene State (22-16) advances to the semifinals where they will play seventh seed Worcester State University. The Lancers (24-17) scored four runs in the top of the eighth inning, upsetting second seed Brandeis 6-4.  In other first-round games, fourth seed Western New England (27-18) edged fifth seed Norwich 1-0 in a game stopped after six innings due to rain. Top seeded Wheaton College's game against eighth seed Becker College was postponed and will be made up on Wednesday.

The site and times for the semifinal rounds have yet to be determined. 

The University of New England concludes its season with a 22-18-1 record.

The Nor'easters jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a two-run double by sophomore Adrienne Chase (Holden, Mass.). 

Keene State tied the game in the bottom of the second inning. With two outs, freshman Anna Glassman (East Granby, Conn.) had a RBI double and teammate Stephanie Long (Salem, N.H.) brought in another run with a single up the middle.

Coming up in the third inning with two outs and the bases loaded, Dussault hit a hard shot to the shortstop that plated two runs to give KSC a 4-2 lead. "We were down early and just had to get it done," said Dussault, who finished the game with two hits and two RBIs.

After UNE got a run back in the top of the fourth, KSC added to its lead with two more runs in the fourth to go up 6-3. Senior Meryl Ragaini (Seymour, Conn.) and freshman Morgan Fallon (Reading, Mass.) had RBI doubles in the inning. 

Seniors Jessica Fiorenza (Wakefield, Mass.) and Ragaini and Long also finished the game with two hits.

Chase had two hits and two RBIs to lead UNE.

Settling down after the first inning, Newell allowed three runs on four hits with two strikeouts and three walks, improving her record to 3-5. "I was able to find my rhythm after the first inning," she said.

Dussault didn't want the seniors on the team to finish their career just yet.  "I've been with Nicole (Dupuis) and Jess (Fiorenza) for three years now, so I wanted them to stay as long as possible," said Dussault.

Fiorenza knew it could have been her last game.  "I tried to keep it in the back of my mind, but I have confidence in this team and I know that we can comeback. We never give up," she said.