Westfield, Mass. - Keene State College held on for a doubleheader sweep (3-2, 6-5) of Westfield State University in non-conference softball on Thursday, April 10.

Keene, (9-7), jumped out to early 3-0 leads in both games and survived seventh-inning Westfield comeback attempts. Westfield stranded runners at second and third to end both games in moving to .500 (9-9) on the season. 

In the opener, Keene scored a run in the first inning on an RBI single by catcher Anna Glassman, who finished with three hits in four at bats. KSC tacked on two more run in the third; they rapped five hits in the inning, including a bases-loaded RBI infield single by Katie Newell and a run-scoring single to left field by Catherine Tewell. 

Westfield scored both of its runs in the fourth frame with two outs and the bases empty. Molly Dunbar singled through the left side, stole second and scored on Breanne Bisceglia's double to the left center gap. Kelsey Carpenter plated Bisceglia with a single to right field.

In Westfield's final at bat, Carpenter reached safely on a one-out bunt, stole second, and moved to third on Julia Sullivan's opposite field single to left. Sullivan then scampered to second when the relay throw to the infield was mishandled. 

With runners and second and third and one out, Paige Circosta dropped a suicide squeeze bunt attempt down the third base line that was just foul. Circosta then struck out looking and Emma Dunbar grounded out to end the game.

Winning pitcher Mariah Crisp allowed six hits and no walks and struck out seven. Losing pitcher Kelley Fluet gave up 10 hits and a walk in six innings. Sullivan pitched the final inning. 

Also collecting three hits besides Glassman in Keene's 11-hit attack was shortstop Kayla Votta (3 for 3). Cleanup and designated hitter Morgan Fallon was 2 for 4. 

Carpenter was 2 for 3 with an RBI for Westfield.

In the nightcap, Keene jumped out to a 3-0 first-inning lead; the big blow was Aliza Guerrero's two-run double to deep left field.

Guerrero opened the fifth with a towering triple to center field and Fallon followed with an RBI double for a 4-0 Keene advantage.

Westfield sliced the lead in half with a two-run uprising in the home half of the fifth. Carpenter singled, was sacrificed to second and scored on Circosta's two-out single. Emma Dunbar then belted an RBI triple down the right field line. 

Keene countered with two runs on four hits in the sixth to take a 6-2 lead, with the key hits RBI singles by Sara Bracken and Fallon.

Westfield knocked starting and winning pitcher Ashlee McGann out of the game early in the seventh inning after she hit Carpenter  and gave up an RBI double to Sullivan.

Pinch hitter Emilee Manna drew a one-out walk and Emma Dunbar reached safely on a throwing error on a force attempt at second base. Sullivan scored on the miscue and the Owls had runners and first and third. 

After Emma Dunbar stole second, Amanda Flower delivered an RBI groundout to make the score 6-5. Dunbar moved to third on the groundout and Elizabeth Kelly walked with two outs, knocking relief pitcher Kellie Saunders from the game. 

Keene veteran coach Charlie Beach then called on pitching ace Crisp. Kelly stole second on her first pitch to place runners at second and third, then Crisp earned the save when she got Molly Dunbar to struck out swinging. 

Keene outhit Westfield, 14-6, led by Fallon (3 for 4, double, RBI) and Geurrero (2 for 4, triple, double, two RBI, two runs scored).

Keene State plays their first home game of the season, a double-header, Saturday against LEC opponent Rhode Island College at noon.

Westfield State heads to Worcester State for a double header Saturday, also at noon.