CLERMONT, Fla.--The Keene State College softball team led defending national champion Tufts University until the seventh inning before the Jumbos escaped with a 6-4 win over the Owls on the final day of games in Florida.  The Owls fell to Concordia (Wis.) 6-1 in the second game of the day.

The Owls conclude the trip 5-5 and return to New England to begin play at home.

Tufts

The Owls had the lead by the end of the first inning.  Stephanie Long singled up the middle to lead off, and moved all the way to third on a bunt and a Tufts error.  Heather Pelletier brought in long with a sacrifice fly to center.  

KSC brought in three more in the bottom of the second.  Anna Glassman started things off with a walk, taking second on a single up the middle by Katie Newell.  Both runners moved up on a wild pitch, and after Tufts' starter Lauren Giglio retired the next two KSC batters, Long doubled home a pair of runs with a hit to left-center.  Bracken followed with a triple to to right and the Owls had a 4-0 lead.

Meanwhile, KSC starter Mariah Crisp limited the Jumbos to one runner past first base in the first four innings.  Tufts did break through in the top of the fifth inning, loading the bases on a pair of hits and a KSC error.  Gracie Marshall singled through the left side, and an error on the play allowed two more runs to score.  

Tufts took the lead in the top of the seventh inning.  With one out, Jo Clair singled to left, and Cassie Ruscz followed up with a home run over the fence in left to give the Jumbos a 5-4 advantage.  Tufts added one more in the inning when Marshall scored on an error.

Crisp pitched her fifth complete game, striking out nine and allowing a mere two earned runs.  Long led an eight hit KSC attack by batting 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.

Concordia (Wis.)

The Falcons limited Keene State to one extra base hit in a 6-1 win.  CUW went in front on Carly Sobrilsky's RBI double in the second inning, and added three more in the third and two in the fourth.

Keene State loaded the bases in the fifth with one out.  Long stroked a single through the left side, moving to second on Sara Bracken's single down the left field line.  Heather Pelletier lashed a single to right to load the bases, but Morgan Fallon lined out to third base and Katie Newell struck out to end the threat.

KSC got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh when Long singled through the left side and moved to second on Bracken's single to left.  Fallon doubled to left-center to send Long home and cut the lead to 6-1.

Long batted 2-for-4, while Bracken picked up three more hits.

Ashlee McGan went the first three innings in the circle for KSC, allowing three earned runs and striking out a pair.  Kellie Saunders went 1.1 innings, and Crisp made her first relief appearance of the year with 2.2 innings of no-hit work.