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KEENE STATE OWLS
Baseball Postgame 3.18.2024
6
Keene State KSC 4-9
7
Winner Babson BABSON 5-6
Keene State KSC
4-9
6
Final
7
Babson BABSON
5-6
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Keene State KSC 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 3 0 6 6 2
Babson BABSON 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 5 X 7 8 2

W: Zander Teator (1-1) L: Young, George (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball | | Ryan Hearn, Sports Information Assistant

KSC Loses Late Lead Against Babson, Drops Fourth Straight

Five Runs in Bottom of Eighth Power Beavers to 7-6 Win

BABSON PARK, Mass. – The Keene State College baseball team received a solid start from sophomore lefty Jake Jachym and scored three runs in the top of the eighth to open a four-run lead, but it did not prove to be enough, as they suffered a disappointing 7-6 loss after a five-run bottom half of the inning by Babson College in non-conference action Monday afternoon at Govoni Field.

Records
  • Keene State:  4-9
  • Babson:  5-6
How It Happened
Playing for the third time in as many days and after an ugly Sunday loss at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, KSC got a number of things to go in the right direction as they searched for a much-needed win.  They took a 2-0 lead in the third after making things happen on the basepaths to go along with an RBI single from Evan Cali, and after the Beavers tied the game at two in the fifth, answered with a run in the sixth to nudge back in front.  Leading 3-2 into the eighth, the Owls tacked on three insurance runs as Shea Zina and George Young walked before Ethan Rainha and Otis Follet cracked consecutive doubles to make it 6-2.  Follet's came on a 3-2 pitch and was to the opposite field, doubling KSC's lead to four on his second hit of the day while chasing Babson reliever Zach Magee, who allowed three runs while recording one out.  However, the final six outs were elusive.

The bottom of the eighth inning did not appear to be problematic initially, as it was 6-3 with two outs and two on following a fielder's choice.  But a hit by pitch and a walk followed, forcing in a run to make it 6-4, and leadoff man Tanner Santos then delivered a critical blow, smacking a three-run bases clearing double to right to put the Beavers ahead for the first time.  Babson was 5-for-13 with two outs in a game where they finished with eight hits total.  Now down a run, KSC put the tying run on base with two outs in the ninth on Brendan Eaton's dribbler up the third base line, but Shea Zina struck out to end the game.

The ending spoiled what was an effective start for Jachym, who allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits in 6.2 innings.  He walked two, struck out four, and induced eight ground ball outs while throwing 94 pitches.  Jachym departed after getting the first two outs of the bottom of the seventh nursing a 3-2 lead, after which Daniel Cantafi entered to get the final out.  Babson had just five hits over the first seven innings, one for extra bases.

Young (0-1) took the loss, allowing two runs and one hit in the eighth.

Zander Teator (1-1) got the win, tossing the final 1.2 innings with two strikeouts.  James Clark got the start for Babson, going six innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on two hits.  He walked three and whiffed six.  KSC grounded out seven times against him and 12 overall in the game.

Follet paced KSC's offense, going 2-for-3 with two RBI and a walk.  Cali and Rainha had the Owls' other RBIs.  Tommy Ahlers extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a leadoff double to right center in the sixth, when Keene State rebounded to take a 3-2 edge after Babson tied the game in the fifth, partly aided by an Owl error that would have ended the inning.

Brant Savage had four hits for Babson in five at bats, scoring twice.  His ground ball single between short and third kicked off what turned out to be the game-deciding bottom of the eighth.

"Jachym did a great job today, gave us a chance to win," said Keene State head coach Justin Blood.  "Free 90s and an inability to make plays when we needed them cost us.  We really need some guys to step up on the mound."

The Owls have walked 78 in 100 innings this season and allowed seven or more runs six times.

Around the Horn
  • Six of KSC's last seven losses are by two runs or less.
  • The Owls have hit .305 so far this season with runners in scoring position, but have allowed opponents to hit .361 in the same situation.
  • Beyond Ahlers, Follet and Eaton each have a hit in six consecutive contests they have appeared in.
  • KSC has lost seven straight in the series, four at Govoni Field, since a 21-6 road win in 2012.  The teams had not met since 2019, when then-No. 7 Babson won 5-0.  The Owls finished 9-22 that season.
Up Next
  • After a day off, KSC travels to take on Westfield State University (8-3) on Wednesday (March 20) at 3:30 p.m.
  • Babson, who was playing in their home opener, goes to Salem State University (5-3) for a doubleheader on Saturday, March 23 (12:00 p.m.).
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