FARMINGDALE, N.Y. - The Keene State College baseball team scored three times in the opening half inning of Saturday's doubleheader against Farmingdale State College, but then did not score over the final 13 frames and lost 4-3 and 1-0 decisions on Long Island at the Farmingdale State Baseball Stadium.

Records

• Keene State:  0-3
• Farmingdale State:  2-0

How It Happened - Game One

The Owls started fast against Rams starter Thomas Messina and an FSC team that had not played a game yet this season, as Josh DeFrancisco led off with a single and moved over to third on a ground out and wild pitch before Connor Walsh worked a one-out walk to put two on.  A fielder's choice back to the pitcher cut down DeFrancisco at home for the second out, but Jake McMaster walked to load the bases before another wild pitch put KSC on the board first.  Joe Barter followed with a two-run double, his first hit and runs batted in as an Owl, to left to make it 3-0.  Isaac Keehn, making his second start of the season, ran into trouble in his half of the opening inning, but left the bases full after striking out Ryan DePalma and Morgan McCarthy.  Keehn whiffed seven over 4.2 innings, but was chased in the fifth after Ernie Geraci's run-scoring double to right with two outs trimmed the Owl lead to 3-2.  The third out came too late, as McCarthy's double greeted Brian Vieira and tied the game at three before Cam Alfano put the Rams ahead 4-3 with a single to right.

Trailing by one through five of a scheduled seven-inning game, Keene State was limited to one hit over the final four innings and did not advance a runner past first, as McMaster was caught trying to steal second in the top of the sixth after he had earlier reached on an infield single to third.  Both of KSC's hits after the first inning came by the Owl junior.

After Messina lasted just 1.1 innings, Joe Wolf (1-0) pitched the next 3.2 and allowed just one hit before Nicholas Rooney got the save, retiring six of the seven batters he faced, including a 1-2-3 seventh.  Vieira (0-1) allowed two hits and a run in the fifth and took the loss.

McMaster finished 2-for-2 with a walk for KSC, while Barter was 1-for-3 with two RBI.  Michael Amandola and McCarthy each had a pair of hits for Farmingdale.  Spots three through seven in the Rams' order were 7-for-16 and drove in all four runs.

How It Happened - Game Two

Senior Shawn O'Donnell (0-1) allowed just one run and two hits while tossing all six innings, but the Keene State bats were still quiet as Joe Marino and Christian Esperon combined to strike out 12 while allowing four hits and no runs as Farmingdale finished off a sweep.  The Owls could not capitalize on the chances they did get, as Barter's two-out double in the second was stranded before DeFrancisco, who singled and advanced to second on an error, was also left in scoring position in the third.  KSC had a golden chance in the top of the fifth, as Barter singled to left to begin the frame before Michael Montembeault doubled with one down to put the tying and go-ahead run in scoring position.  However, a grounder back to the pitcher and a strikeout following an intentional walk left the Owls with nothing.  Walsh worked a walk to lead off the sixth, but KSC had the final six sent down in order after that, as Philip Gerard's single in the third proved to be the only offense of the game and all that was needed for Rams pitching.  FSU won despite managing only two singles in the game.

Marino (1-0) picked up the win after allowing four hits and a walk over five innings, striking out nine.  Esperon got the save, striking out three over two hitless innings.

Barter had two of KSC's four hits, as he went 2-for-3 with a double to cap off a 3-for-6 day with a pair of two-baggers.  Montembeault also doubled in a 1-for-2 showing, while DeFrancisco singled and walked.

Around the Horn

• Keehn has made a pair of starts and struck out 14 over 9.2 innings, allowing five runs (four earned).  Overall, Keene State's starters have yielded six runs (five earned) over their first 15.2 innings of the year.
• The two teams had not met since March 18, 2016, an 8-2 Owl win in Florida, and had not played in New York since 2013.

Up Next

• KSC heads further south for another seven-inning doubleheader tomorrow (March 8) in New Jersey against William Paterson University (4-1).  First pitch is at 11:00 am.
• Farmingdale State is also right back at it on Sunday, as they host SUNY Plattsburgh for a twinbill beginning at 12:00 pm.