KEENE, N.H. – The Keene State College softball team was held to two runs and never led in a Little East Conference doubleheader on Saturday morning at the Owl Athletic Complex, falling to Rhode Island College 9-1 in six innings and 8-1 to close the league slate.  Between games, the Owls honored seniors Sara Cote, Grace Hallett, and Kate Fisher for their contributions to the program.

Records

• Keene State:  8-26, 3-13 LEC
• Rhode Island College:  16-16, 7-7 LEC

Postgame Interview (Coach Fisk Hennessey)

How It Happened
The Owls entered the day with still a mathematical chance at qualifying for the conference tournament that begins in a little over a week, but the Anchorwomen dashed those chances by scoring four runs in an inning three times and took both in a doubleheader that officially begin at 8:53 a.m., the earliest start time of the season.
Rhode Island College scored a run in the top of the first in each game to quickly jump out in front and ultimately never trailed at any point in the doubleheader.  The Owls' defense did not do them any favors, as the Anchorwomen's first inning run in the second game came as a result of a dropped fly ball to left.  KSC overall made six miscues on the day and allowed eight unearned runs (four in each game).

In the opener, after stranding a double from the hot-hitting Liv Whittier and two walks in the first inning, the Owls tied the game in the second when Carissa Miller singled to lead off and eventually scored on a single from speedster Molly Murray.  However, RIC answered right back with a four-run third for a 5-1 lead.  Victoria Young began the frame with a single and Avery Katz followed with a walk.  Both moved up on a sacrifice bunt before an error (that likely would have brought the run in anyway) and a sacrifice fly brought home both and made it 3-1.  Noelle Simmons, who reached on the miscue, then scored on a wild pitch for a three-run Anchorwomen lead.  The visitors' first run-producing hit of the frame came in the form of a Cassidy Schoen double that made it 5-1.

Despite getting only two ground balls (and three strikeouts), Abby Kidd was mostly in command in the circle for RIC, as she bounced back after KSC tied the game to retire 10 of the next 11 batters including two 1-2-3 innings.  Already ahead by four, the Anchorwomen blew the game wide open and doubled their lead by scoring four times in the sixth to make it 9-1.

Kidd (10-7) allowed one run (unearned) and four hits in six innings to get the win.  She walked three and struck out three.

Lilah Demmy fell to 5-8, allowing nine runs (five earned) and nine hits in six innings with four walks and three strikeouts.

The Anchorwomen rolled in the second contest, also, breaking a 1-0 game open by scoring three runs in the third and four in the fourth.  KSC allowed four more unearned runs, making four miscues to aid Rhode Island College's offense, which piled up 11 hits including two triples and two doubles.

The Owls managed very little offensively against Gabby Cunha (2-3), who pitched a complete game while allowing one run and six hits with one walk and six strikeouts.  Keene State's lone run came in the the fourth when Allison Adams plated Whittier with an RBI double, and the home team (now 3-7 at the Owl Athletic Complex), otherwise went down on 85 pitches and grounded out 12 times.

Mia Ferry fell to 2-6 after taking the loss in the circle, allowing eight runs (four earned) and 10 hits in four innings.  She walked three.

Eight different Anchorwomen recorded a hit, including three with two, as they bolstered their LEC seed with two wins and simultaneously eliminated the Owls from postseason contention after they entered the day with faint hopes.  KSC finished 3-13 in conference play.

Around the Horn

• Whittier extended her hitting streak to six games and has a .320 average and .374 on-base percentage this season.
• The Owls have lost five straight and seven of eight in the series after winning 14 straight.  They have scored five runs in the last four games against RIC.

Up Next

• Keene State hosts Western New England University in a season-ending doubleheader on May 3 at 3:30 p.m.
• RIC, who had dropped three of four entering the day, closes their league slate at the University of Massachusetts-Boston for two on Saturday, May 6 at 1:00 p.m.