KEENE, N.H.--The Keene State College softball team was swept in a non-conference doubleheader by Castleton State College on Sunday.  The Spartans took game one 8-3, followed by a 9-1 win in the nightcap.

Keene State has lost six straight and is 10-16, while the Spartans improve to 13-9.

Game One

The Spartans sent 10 batters to the plate in the first, scoring five runs.  Kayla Daigle opened with a walk, and after Jessica Babcock reached on a fielder's choice, Brittany Brayman walked to load the bases.  Katie Gagne singled in the game's first run, and Ruby Bushey followed by hitting a grand slam to centerfield that made it 5-0.

Keene State pulled one run back in the first when Stephanie Long led off with a single and moved into scoring position on Sara Bracken's groundout.  Brittany DaMota picked up an RBI when she singled to right field to plate Long.

The Spartans added three more runs in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of three Keene State errors in the inning.  

Aliza Guerrero hit her fourth home run of the year, a two run shot in the bottom of the fourth after Morgan Fallon doubled that made it an 8-3 game.  

Katie Gagne earned the win with four innings of work, while Kayla Wood picked up the save for the Spartans.  Katie Newell was tagged with the loss, striking out one in one inning of work.  Ashlee McGan pitched the final six innings, allowing three unearned runs with four strikeouts.

Jen Galavotti led Keene State with a 3-for-3 day at the plate, while Long had two hits.

Game Two

It was Keene State who opened the scoring in the second game, as Long again led off the KSC first with a single and stole second.  Galavotti continued her strong day at the plate with a single up the middle that gave the Owls a 1-0 lead.

Castleton State tied the game in the third as Sami Carlo walked and eventually scored on Brittany Brayman's single.  

KSC had a golden chance to take the lead back in the bottom of the third, as consecutive singles from Fallon, Galavotti, and Guerrero loaded the bases with one out, but the bases were left full as Olivia Indorf struck out and Newell grounded out to short.

The Spartans scored three times in the top of the fourth on a bases loaded walk to Babcock and a 2-RBI hit from Brayman. Back-to-back home runs from Bushey and Timi Carone in the fifth extended the lead to 6-1, and Castleton State scored a single run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to make it 9-1.

Long finished the game 3-for-4, while Galavotti had a pair of singles for Keene State.  Indorf took the loss, striking out five in four innings of work.  Wood picked up the win, allowing two hits in four innings of relief.

The Owls return to the diamond on Wednesday, welcoming Plymouth State for an LEC twinbill that begins at 3:30 pm.