KEENE, N.H. - The University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth scored 13 of their 16 runs in the fourth inning or later and capitalized on seven errors as they swept the Keene State College softball team by final scores of 10-6 (eight innings) and 6-2 in Friday afternoon Little East Conference action at the Owl Athletic Complex.

Records

• Keene State:  12-20, 2-10 LEC
• UMass-Dartmouth:  25-8-1, 9-3 LEC

How It Happened – Game One
KSC scored twice on an error to jump in front in the second, saw that lead disappear immediately in the top of the third, answered to take the lead back themselves in the bottom half, but then saw the Corsairs tied the game with one in the sixth and score sixth times in the eighth to emerge with the victory in the opener.  It was a tough loss to swallow for the Owls, who fell to 1-2 in extra innings.  When UMass-Dartmouth made it 4-4 in the sixth, it was a strange leadoff single by Averi Soares who had seemingly originally been called out on a nice catch by shortstop Sara Cote before the umpires reversed it to say it hit the ground that began the rally.  She moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, third on a wild pitch, and then scored on pinch-hitter Kate Condon's single that bounced through the right side.  The Owls held them right there and then stranded two Corsairs in the seventh to set up a chance to walk-off, but could not.  Kylie Frank walked to kick off the bottom of the seventh and moved to second on Cote's two-out single, but was left there.  Two of UMass-Dartmouth's first four batters in the eighth were sent down by Alexis Blanchette as it seemed the Owls were setting themselves to come up with another chance to win, but Jill Richards had other ideas.  Their starting pitcher in the game, she drilled a ball to center that was over the head of Liv Whittier and cleared what had been full bases – two on walks – to suddenly make it 7-4 UMD.  They did not stop there, as Larissa Piessens plopped an RBI single into left two batters later before a two-run error gave the Corsairs a six-run frame and a 10-4 edge.

The Owls scored twice in the bottom of the eighth, but did not significantly threaten as they dropped to 1-4 at home.  Early in the game, KSC battled their way to a pair of leads, including 2-0 in the second after UMD catcher Lindsay Chubbuck's attempted pickoff throw at second ended up at the centerfield fence, scoring two runners.  The Corsairs scored three times in the third on only one hit – a Jill Richards single that made it 3-2 – but the middle of the Owl order responded in an important way.  Murray found a hole and singled into right with one out, stole second, and then scored on a triple to center by Cote.  Meghan Moran then followed with a sacrifice fly to put KSC ahead 4-3.  Starting pitcher Carissa Miller kept it there, stranding a pair in each of the next two innings, but saw her chance at a win go by the boards when UMass-Dartmouth responded in the sixth.

Miller allowed one earned run and five hits in five innings.  She walked two and struck out two.  Alexis Blanchette (0-4) took the loss, surrendering five earned runs over the final three innings.
Cote paced Keene State's lineup with a big 3-for-3 day that also included an RBI triple and a walk.  Murray and Megan Blanchette also had multi-hit efforts, but the Owls made five errors defensively to allow four unanswered runs.

Richards was 3-for-4 with a double and four RBI at the plate.  She also improved to 13-4 in the circle, pitching all eight innings and allowing six runs (four earned) on nine hits while walking four and striking out seven.  Eleven of her 24 outs came via ground ball. 

How It Happened – Game Two
The hot-hitting Cote blasted her second home run in the last four games to give KSC a 2-0 edge through three, but the Corsairs scored six unanswered runs to sweep the Owls in Keene for the first time ever.  Keene State's lead turned into a 3-2 deficit a half inning later, and Kaitlyn Shirashac (11-2) mostly shut down the Owl lineup over six strong innings.  KSC's defensive miscues hurt them again, as they made two more errors that led to three unearned runs – all in the momentum-changing fourth.  Ahead 3-2, UMD got breathing room in the fifth on a two-run blast to left by Leah Major before Dyonna Rodas got in on the action with a solo homer in the seventh that made it 6-2.  That was more than enough for Shirshac, who sent down eight of the next 11 Owls after her team took the lead in the fourth.

Lilah Demmy (7-8) got the start for KSC in the circle and allowed six runs (only three earned) in seven innings.  She walked to and struck out three.

Richards went 2-for-3 with a walk for the Corsairs, while Rodas and Major each homered.

Cote finished 1-for-3 with the two-run shot and Molly Murray added a 2-for-4 effort.  KSC had as many hits as UMass-Dartmouth in the game (seven apiece), but made two errors, did not draw a walk, and left six on base.  They fell to 1-15 when scoring two runs or less this season (11-5 otherwise).

Around the Horn

• Cote finished 4-for-6 on the day with a triple and her third home run of the year, raising her season batting average to .405.  That figure is currently eighth in the LEC among qualified players.
• The losses drop the Owls to four games behind sixth-place Plymouth State University (5-5 LEC) and the University of Massachusetts-Boston (6-6) for the final Little East tournament playoff spot.
• KSC is 37-14 in the all-time series, but has lost eight out of nine against UMD.  Today was just their third and fourth home losses in the series in 23 games.

Up Next

• Keene State is right back at it tomorrow (Saturday, April 23), again at home, when they host the University of Southern Maine for a pair starting at 1:00 p.m.  The Owls will honor their four seniors on this year's team (Kylie Frank, Meghan Moran, Faith Barbieri, and Alexis Blanchette) over the course of the day.
• UMass-Dartmouth visits Castleton University (14-9, 5-3 LEC) in a Sunday league doubleheader that begins at 11:00 am.