Auburndale, Fla.--The sixth inning proved pivotal in both games as the Keene State College baseball team split a double-header with Bowdoin College on Wednesday.  The Owls won the nightcap 13-9, after falling in the first game 7-4.

Keene State improves to 3-4 this season.  "We played 13 good innings out of 14 today," said a satisfied KSC coach Ken Howe.  "We've had some guys play out of position due to some injuries and we've done a good job adjusting."

Game One

The Polar Bears scored six times in the bottom of the sixth inning to counter a four run KSC fifth in a 7-4 win.  Bowdoin got a single run in the bottom of the first when Sam Canales singled, took second on an error, and scored on Chad Martin's RBI groundout.  

1-0 it remained until the top of the fifth inning when KSC pounded out four runs.  Matt Boulay led of with a single, moving to second on Tanner Chase's sacrifice.  Cody Dube singled home Boulay to tie the score.  After Dube stole second, Joe Libby put the Owls in front with an RBI single.  

KSC's Billy Hartmann was hit by a pitch on the next at-bat, and after Jon Fraser replaced Bowdoin starter Jay Loughlin, Nick Vita clubbed an RBI double.  Andrew Gummow followed with a sacrifice fly to centerfield to put KSC up 4-1.

Bowdoin won the game with six runs in the sixth inning.  All came with two outs, as a single and two walks loaded the bases, and Bowdoin strung together five straight singles to take the lead.  David Zabrinsky set the Owls down in order in the seventh to record the save.

The result spoiled a strong effort from KSC starter Eddie Dionne, who went 5.2 innings, allowing just two hits and striking out six.  Joe Libby and Matt Boulay each had a pair of hits for KSC.

Game Two

Keene State scored 10 times in the sixth inning to capture game two.  Andy Johnson led a 14 hit Keene State attack by batting 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Joe Libby, Matt Boulay, Tanner Chase, and Vinny Parilla each knocked in a pair of runs.  

After spotting Bowdoin a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, KSC got a run back in the bottom of the inning.  Libby led off with a walk, and stole second.  Billy Hartmann also drew a walk, and Nick Vita was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  After Andrew Gummow struck out, Johnson brought home Libby with an RBI single.  

The Polar Bears seemed to tighten their grip on the game, adding single runs in the second and third and three more in the fourth to take a 7-1 lead.  The Owls cut into the lead in the bottom of the fourth, as Boulay reached on a fielder's choice and took second on an error.  Chase singled him home, and after Parilla drew a walk, Libby singled to score Chase to trim the gap to 7-3.

Bowdoin increased the lead to 8-3 on a wild pitch in the fifth inning, but the sixth inning went Keene State's way this time, as the Owls sent 17 batters to the plate in a 10 run sixth.  KSC loaded the bases with none out as Dube, Boulay, and Chase hit singles, and Parilla made it four hits in a row for the Owls with an RBI hit.  After Bowdoin made a pitching change, Joe Libby had the fifth KSC hit of the inning to cut the lead to 8-5.  

After Hartmann and Vita struck out, Gummow was hit by a pitch with the bases still loaded, and Johnson tied the game by singling in Libby and Parilla.  Dube, up for the second time in the inning, reached base with a free pass to keep the bases loaded, and Boulay brought in two more runs.  Chase added his second hit of the inning and Parilla reached on an error to increase Keene State's lead to 13-8.

Bowdoin did grab back one run in the top of the seventh, but could not mount any further comeback.

Keith Simpson started and went the first 3.1 innings for KSC, while Tim Coppinger relieved and struck out three in 3.1 innings of work.  Nate Pederson went the final 0.1 innings on the hill for KSC.

The Owls return to the diamond tomorrow at 11:30 am against Western New England University.