HAMDEN, Conn. –
Michael Montembeault hit a tie-breaking two-run home run in the top of the tenth and drove in three on the day, one of three Owls to drive in multiple runs, as the Keene State College baseball team downed Albertus Magnus College 8-4 in 10 innings in non-conference action at Rochford Field Wednesday afternoon.
Records
- Keene State: 2-12
- Albertus Magnus: 0-12
How It Happened
KSC got hits from nine different people and used two two-run home runs and a two-run double to pick up their second win of the season and first in a true road game. The Owls surrendered the first run of the game in the second, but scored the next four on a two-run shot from
Brendan Eaton in the third and two in the sixth on a sac fly from Montembeault and a
Malik Pearson single to lead 4-1
through six. KSC appeared to be in control at that point after starter
Phil Nichols gave them a five-inning outing where he allowed just one unearned run and four hits while striking out four and
Dean Ruzich a scoreless sixth, but the Falcons rallied late. Matt Warren's base hit with two outs in the seventh made it a 4-2 game, plating Anthony Broadhurst who was plunked to start the inning, and more trouble was around the corner in the eighth. A single and error started that frame before a sacrifice bunt by Alex Kozlowski put two in scoring position against
Gregory Esposito, who had entered with two outs in the seventh. Broadhurst cashed in, plating both with a single to make it a 4-4 game. Albertus' offense had been mostly dormant up until the seventh, but they had four hits over the two frames that helped them tie the game, and overall had six of their 10 come after the seventh inning. The hosts threatened to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth for the first time since it was 2-1 in the second after a single put the go-ahead run in scoring position, but Esposito got Ron Losacano to fly to right to end the threat.
The Owls had a key chance to retake the lead in the ninth, as
Josh Beayon singled to center to start the frame and was sacrificed to second by
Wyatt Daft before moving to third on a wild pitch. However, he could get no further, as a pair of strikeouts around a walk (and steal) kept the game tied.
Brendan Muhs entered and worked around a two-out walk in the ninth to send the game to extras, where Keene State came through – quickly. They put the leadoff runner on for the seventh time in 10 innings on a
Joe Barter single, one of his three hits on the day, and made it count, as Montembeault's two-run shot to left followed for a 6-4 lead. They did not stop there, as
Junior Santos singled and
Trent Mayer walked with one out to set up another threat. Both moved into scoring position on a passed ball ahead of a two-run single lined into right by
Liam Conley that provided the Owls a four-run cushion. Leading 8-4, Muhs (1-2) worked around a pair of harmless hits in the 10th to lock up KSC's win, striking out two in the frame and three over his two scoreless innings.
Barter finished 3-for-5 with a double and two runs.
Wyatt Daft had a pair of hits and scored a run, while Montembeault homered and drove in three in a 1-for-4 effort. Eaton also went deep, walked, and plated a pair. Pearson (1-4, RBI, BB) and
Nathaniel Hudson (1-3, BB, R) each reached base twice.
Matt Lewczyk finished 2-for-3 for Albertus Magnus, while Losacano was 2-for-4, but the Falcons had just one hit for extra bases in the game. Their starting pitcher, Michael Pepe, lasted three innings and allowed two runs and three hits with one walk. Jason Sullivan (0-1), the fifth of six pitchers, took the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) and five hits. He walked one and struck out three.
Around the Horn
- Eaton has three home runs and 10 runs batted in over his last nine games. Daft has three multi-hit games in his last five dating to March 18.
- The Owls have won all five matchups in series history by a combined 56 runs. They had not met since 2008 in Mesa, Arizona, when KSC won 18-2 and 24-3 (5 innings).
- Keene State's six home runs on the season match last season's total, which was accumulated over 22 games.
Up Next
- The Owls are slated for their first home game of the season on Sunday, April 3 when they take on New England College (6-7). First pitch is at 12:00 p.m. KSC had hoped to open their Owl Athletic Complex slate yesterday, but could not due to unplayable field conditions.
- Albertus Magnus hosts Dean College (0-12, 0-1 GNAC) for a GNAC doubleheader on Saturday, April 2 at 12:00 p.m.
