Box Score KEENE, N.H.--Nick Vita drove in the game winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift the Keene State College baseball team to a come-from-behind 5-4 win over Westfield State University on Wednesday afternoon.
Keene State ups its record to 8-16, while Westfield State drops to 13-16-1.
Joe Libby was 2-for-4 with a run scored and four RBI. The Owls got a strong performance from their bullpen - Jeff Lunn, Drew Carter, and Mike Crimi combined for 5 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just four hits. Carter picked up the win, and Crimi notched his first save of the year.
Westfield State had taken the lead with a four run fourth inning. Tyler Adams led off with a single to left and took second on a KSC error. Consecutive hits from E.G. McMillan and Tim Santilli brought Adams around, and Danny DiMatteo reached on a bunt single to load the bases.
D.J. Bishop singled in the next run for Westfield State, and after KSC starter Jake Ciolfi got Zach Clifford to pop out to second, Connor Sheridan drove in two runs with a double to right field. Lunn came on in relief and got KSC out of trouble by retiring Jeremy Tanguay with a pop up to first base, and Dan McCormack grounded out.
The KSC comeback began in the bottom of the sixth inning. Dustin Howe was hit by a pitch with one out, and moved to second on a free pass issued to Joe Cortese. Libby brought in both runners with his fourth double of the season, a shot to right field. KSC completed the rally in the eighth. Cortese singled up the middle, and Chase walked to put two on with no outs. Libby laid down a bunt that allowed two runners to score, setting the stage for Vita's hit. The senior smacked a single through the left side to put KSC in front for good.
Westfield State put the winning run 90 feet away in the top of the ninth. Crimi allowed a leadoff double to Bishop, and moved to third on Kyle Sheridan's groundout to shortstop. Crimi ended the game by getting Kyle Colesanti to line out to right field.
Keene State resumes LEC play by hosting Southern Maine in an LEC doubleheader that begins at noon on Saturday. Westfield State hosts Eastern Connecticut State for a non-conference game that begins at 4 p.m. tomorrow.
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