NEW LONDON, Conn. - Looking to stop a losing skid, the Keene State College baseball team erased a 2-0 deficit that formed in the fourth by immediately plating three runs in the next half inning, but a three-run bottom of the seventh inning powered Mitchell College to a 6-3 non-conference victory Thursday afternoon in Connecticut in the first-ever meeting between the programs.

Records

• Keene State:  6-20
• Mitchell:  20-7

How It Happened
Only one of the Mariners' final four runs that turned a 3-2 deficit into a 6-3 lead came in on a hit, but it was nonetheless enough to deal KSC a fifth consecutive loss and to 1-12 in true road games away from the Owl Athletic Complex.  Keene State recorded a hit in each of the first three innings, but did not advance any of them past second – one was thrown out trying to stretch a single in to a double – and then fell behind in the fourth after a pair of one-out walks bit them in a big way.  After Bo Yaworski and Dougie DelaCruz each took ball four, Hunter Yaworski and Lelo Martinez each followed with singles to provide Mitchell a 1-0 lead.  John-John Jose tacked on another run on a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead through four, but the Owls responded immediately against a well-rested Mariners team that had not played since beating the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth 6-2 exactly a week ago.  Liam Conley wound up sparking a three-run outburst in the fifth by reaching on a bunt hit and was followed by a walk from Mark Barrett, who also went 2-for-3 on the day.  After Malik Pearson sacrificed both into scoring position, KSC's leadoff man Wyatt Daft made things happen to tie the game, first singling home a run to make it 2-1 before he and Barrett executed a first-and-third double-steal to even the score at two.  A costly error that should have been the third out of the inning on Brendan Eaton's grounder to short helped Keene State jump in front 3-2.  Will Dolaher tossed a 1-2-3 fifth for a shutdown frame and the Owls' pitching staff overall held Mitchell in check early, but another free pass proved costly in the sixth as Bo Yaworski walked to lead off the frame and later scored on Martinez's fly ball to center to make it 3-3.

After the Owls put up three in the fifth, their offense was held down by Kevin Vining, as they managed just one hit over the next three innings and were sent down in order in the seventh and eighth.  Mitchell broke the tie by scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh against Patrick McKeighan, who entered to start the inning.  No. 7 hitter Matt Falk poked a single to begin the rally and moved to third on a sac bunt and Justin Adorno's base hit as the Mariners had runners on the corners.  A hit batter loaded the bases and then another walk forced home the go-ahead and eventual game-deciding run.  DelaCruz then bounced out to second to make it 5-3 before Hunter Yaworski's single made it 6-3, just the second run Mitchell scored on the day that was plated by a hit.  Overall, the teams were even in hits at eight and KSC had the only one for extra bases in the game, but the Owls were hurt by walking five batters.

Down 6-3 in the ninth, Keene State got a one-out single by Trent Mayer and a two-out base hit by Barrett to attempt a last ditch rally, bringing the tying run to the plate, but Kenny Heon finished off his first save of the season by striking out Pearson to end the game.

Vining (2-1) got the win for Mitchell after 3.1 scoreless innings of relief, allowing three hits and striking out one.  Starter Ryan Solimine tossed three scoreless innings, allowing three hits.  He struck out four.  Offensively, Hunter Yaworski finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and Falk was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run.

Spot starter Joe Barter got the ball for the Owls and fired three innings, allowing just one hit.  He whiffed one.  McKeighan (0-4) allowed three runs to suffer the loss.

Mayer (2-3), Barrett (2-3, BB, R) and Daft (2-4, RBI, R) all had multiple-hit efforts for Keene State at the plate, who was also 3-for-4 stealing bases as a team.  Eaton doubled to extend his hitting streak to five games.

Around the Horn

• Daft's multiple-hit effort was his ninth of the season in 22 games (19 starts).  He is hitting .343 on the season.
• KSC's four-game road swing saw them play three teams who have all won 20 or more games.  Mitchell made the NCAA tournament last year and played in the Auburn Regional where they went 1-2, losing to Keystone College (7-1) and beating the United States Merchant Marine Academy (4-2) before being eliminated by SUNY Cortland 3-0.

Up Next

• Keene State returns home for an important Little East Conference doubleheader on Saturday (April 23) against Western Connecticut State University (5-12, 1-6 LEC).  The results will help shape what the race for the final spots in the six-team Little East Conference tournament will look like.  The newly-named Wolves have a twinbill against the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth tomorrow.
• Mitchell hosts Lesley University (13-18-1, 1-5-1 NECC) for two league games on the same day at 12:00 p.m.