LITTLE RIVER, S.C. – Elyse Picard was one of two Owls with multiple hits, including the first of her career to go along with her first two career RBI, but the Keene State College softball team lost 4-3 in eight innings to the Mississippi University for Women in their season-opener on Thursday at the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex.

Records

• Keene State:  0-1
• MUW:  10-6

How It Happened
The Owls had a pair of one-run leads, but two consecutive one-out singles after a costly error earlier in the bottom of the eighth inning spelled trouble as KSC lost in their first contest in South Carolina – the third straight year they have visited Myrtle Beach for Spring Break.  It was a back-and-forth game that the Owls were twice three outs away from winning, but MUW rallied both times.  In the seventh, L. Harrison began the frame with a bunt single and then stole second, eventually tying the game at two after a sacrifice bunt and fielder's choice.  Keene State stranded the winning run on third and answered with a run of their own in the eighth.  Liv Whittier began the frame on second and Grace Wallace then walked to put two on.  Lilah Demmy's sacrifice then moved both runners up, and the Owls nudged in front 3-2 on Picard's sacrifice fly.

In the bottom half of the inning, MUW had Maiya Joe placed on second and Alysa Newman then reached on an error to put two on with nobody out.  Demmy struck out Brooklyn Wood for the first out, but No. 6 and No. 7 batters Reagan Newell and Ashton Farnell singled to left and right center, respectively, to plate both runners and give the Owls (from Mississippi) the win.

MUW had struck first in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead on Joe's infield single and KSC did not see their first baserunner until the third inning.  The Owls worked a pair of walks and Carissa Miller had a single in that frame to load the bases, but they were stranded after Whitter bounced to short.  Keene State would break through in the next inning after Picard doubled home Demmy, who reached on a fielder's choice that erased Wallace, who led off with a single, on the basepaths.  Picard then scored for a 2-1 lead on Kalle Halvorsen's two-out base hit.  That score would remain until the seventh despite KSC having a big chance to tack on runs in the fifth with runners on first and third with one out.  However, a double steal saw Molly Murray get thrown out at the plate and Wallace then flied out to left as it remained a one-run game.

"I was impressed with our first start and thankful to be playing games on real field in beautiful weather," said Owls head coach Carrah Fisk Hennessey.  "Looking forward to getting better and solidifying some things...cleaning up our defnese and making solid ball-barrel contact throughout the week we are here."

Picard finished 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, and a run.  Miller (2-4) also had a multi-hit game while Wallace was 1-for-3 and walked.

Demmy (0-1) took a tough loss, allowing four runs (one earned) in 7.1 innings.  She allowed eight hits, walked one, and struck out four.

Newell (1-0) got the win for MUW, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits with four walks and one strikeout in eight innings.

Lilly Harrison was 3-for-3 out of the No. 8 sport in the order for Mississippi, while Joe (2-4, RBI) had a multi-hit game.

The game marked the Owl debuts of Wallace, Picard, Abbie Monkevicz, and Emma Chenette.

Around the Horn

• It was the first ever meeting between the teams, which are 1,295 miles and 19 hours and 33 minutes (driving) apart.
• KSC is 12-8 all-time in Myrtle Beach, going 8-2 in 2022 and 4-6 in 2023.

Up Next

• The Owls play a pair on Friday (March 15) in South Carolina, taking on the University of Maine-Farmington at 11:00 a.m. and Notre Dame College (Md.) at 1:00 p.m.  KSC is in Myrtle Beach until next Tuesday.
• MUW finishes their time at the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic tomorrow, taking on Gwynedd Mercy University at 9:00 a.m. ET and the University of Scranton at 1:30 p.m. ET.