Box Score KEENE, N.H.--Sara Bracken singled in Kayla Votto in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift Keene State College to a 6-5 win over the University of Southern Maine in Little East Conference softball action at Owl Athletic Complex.
Mariah Crisp went the distance for KSC, striking out 15 Huskies. Desiree Benner took the loss for USM, with five runs allowed in six innings of work.
KSC took an early lead. Stephanie Long hit a home run over the fence in left-center to lead off the first inning to put KSC in front. The Owls added another in the third inning when Long singled up the middle, and scored on Guerrero's RBI double to left-center.
The Huskies tied it in the top of the fourth. Samantha Crosman reached on an error, and moved all the way to third on a double by Kristen Duross. Stephanie Stockwell doubled in both runners to get the Huskies on the board.
The Owls responded in the fifth inning. Pinch-hitter Anna Glassman led off with a walk, and moved to second Votto's sacrifice bunt. Sara Bracken drove her in with a single to center, and Guerrero followed with her second home run of the season, a towering blast to left-center that put KSC up 5-2.
A two out rally pulled the Huskies within one in the sixth. Duross singled, and moved to third on a hit off the bat of Stockwell. Danny Humphrey made it 5-4 with a 2-RBI hit to right-center. Down to their last out, the Huskies forced extra innings in the top of the seventh. Allison Pillar had led off with a walk, and took second on a sacrifice bunt by Lillian Cooper. Crisp got Cara Radino to fly out to left, but Crosman slapped a single down the right field line to force extra innings.
The teams traded zeroes in the eighth inning, and Crisp retired the Huskies in order in the top of the ninth. In the bottom of the inning, Votto led off with a single and stole second. Bracken singled to short, moving up Votto, who scored when the relay throw was dropped.
Votto and Long each had three hits for KSC. Guerrero finished 2-for-3 with a double and a home run, knocking in three.
The second game was postponed and will be made up at a date to be determined. KSC is next in action against Williams College, with the non-conference doubleheader scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Monday. Southern Maine hosts UMass-Boston in an LEC doubleheader on Wednesday, April 23 at 3:30.
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