Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 CLERMONT, Fla.--The Keene State College softball team split a pair of games on Thursday, falling to Western New England University 2-1 before beating Trinity (Conn.) 10-1 in a five inning contest.
KSC improves to 2-6.
Western New England
A two-run error in the fourth inning proved to be the difference in a classic pitcher's duel. KSC's Mariah Crisp and Western New England's Lauren Zambrano combined to allow just seven hits in the game.
Crisp struck out 13 batters, while Zambrano recorded eight Ks.
The Owls had taken a 1-0 lead when Morgan Fallon hit her first home run of the season over the field in center.
The Golden Bears struck back in the bottom of the fourth. Samantha Mulhern singled to center and moved to third base on another single by Alexis Bukowski, and a KSC error brought both around to score.
KSC had chances in both of the final two innings to tie the game; Sara Bracken hit a leadoff double in the sixth, and moved to third on Aliza Guerrero's sacrifice bunt, but was left stranded. In the seventh, Shae Crosby walked with two outs, but pinch runner Kayla Votto remained at third when Heather Pelletier struck out to end the game.
Trinity (Conn.)
The Owl offense came alive, scoring eight runs in the first two innings to open up a big lead. The first nine batters to the plate all reached base for KSC, beginning with consecutive singles for Stephanie Long and Sara Bracken. Aliza Guerrero walked to load the bases, and Fallon brought in the game's first run with a fielder's choice.
Jen Galavotti walked to re-load the bases, and another fielder's choice, this time off the bat of Shae Crosby, followed by bases loaded walks to Rachel Boynton and Brittany DaMota, made it 4-0. Kayla Votto reached on an error to add another run in the first.
KSC wasn't done scoring, as Fallon doubled with one out and scored on Galavotti's single to center field. Crosby doubled in Galavotti, chasing Trinity starter Rachael Smith, and another Trinity error allowed Crosby to score, making it 8-0.
The Owls added two more in the top of the fourth, as pinch-hitter Sam Murphy smoked an RBI double to center field, then scored on the third Trinity error of the day.
Meanwhile, Ashlee McGan was nearly perfect in the circle, striking out four and allowing one unearned run.
KSC resumes competition against Wisconsin-Stout and Bowdoin on Friday, beginning at 9 a.m.
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