DANBURY, Conn. – The Keene State College softball team allowed a combined five runs in the first inning to fall into quick deficits and never recovered in either game as they lost at Western Connecticut State University 7-4 and 8-1 in their Little East Conference-opening doubleheader on Sunday afternoon at the Westside Field.

Records

• Keene State:  4-14, 0-2 LEC
• Western Connecticut:  10-12, 2-2 LEC

How It Happened
Coming off a doubleheader in which the Owls struggled defensively, miscues again bit them in the first inning of the opener, and KSC never led on the day as WCSU notched their first two conference wins of the season.  The losses extended the Owls' skid to eight, a span in which they have allowed opponents to hit .360 while KSC has also made 20 errors.  Grace Wallace remained hot, going 4-for-6 with a pair of doubles on the day and is now hitting .368 over her first 18 career games. 

After allowing early runs in both contests, KSC came back to within a run in each contest, but both times the Wolves answered right back.  In the opener, the Owls trimmed a 3-0 deficit to 3-2 in the second when Molly Murray singled and Carissa Miller reached on an error with two down to bring in a pair of runs, but Rachael Ushka got one of them right back in the bottom half on an RBI double that made it 4-2.  Liv Whitter and Wallace both singled with one out in the third, but a double play followed and the Owls' next hit did not come until the sixth.  It was still 4-2 at that time, when Wallace doubled to right with one out in that frame, but a sacrifice bunt and groundout ended the inning.  WestConn then broke the game open with three two-out runs in their trip to the plate, scoring their first run on a wild pitch before Carly Cordova's two RBI single made it 7-2.
Three of Keene State's nine hits came in the seventh, when Elyse Picard's double with two out plated Miller and Murray to make it 7-4, but the Owls got no closer and could not overcome four errors and allowing three unearned runs.

Lilah Demmy (2-8) took the loss, allowing seven runs (four earned) and nine hits over six innings.  She walked one and struck out one.

Lindsay Farinaccio improved to 6-4 after allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits in five innings.  She walked one and whiffed two.

Cordova paced WCSU offensively, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI.  The top three in the hosts' lineup had five of their nine hits.

In the nightcap, KSC got within 2-1 in the top of the third following a Halvorsen single that was later cashed in by Whittier, but WCSU immediately came back with three runs in their half and rolled from there, recording two wins after entering with six losses in their past seven games.  The Wolves tacked on three more runs in the fourth to go up 8-1, all with two outs, ultimately scoring six times in a two-inning span.  Cordova finished with another multi-hit game (2-4, 2B, RBI, 2 R), including an RBI double that made it 6-1, and the top five in WestConn's order drove in six of their eight runs and drew four walks.

Down 8-1 entering the fifth, KSC got doubles from Murray and Wallace in the ensuing two frames, but did not manage any major threats.

Emma Chenette (0-2) started and took the loss for the Owls, allowing five hits and five runs in 2.1 innings.  She walked three and whiffed two.

Sydney Chenoweth won for the first time on the season despite not striking out anyone (also did not issue any walks), allowing six hits and one run in the complete game.
"We have moments of execution, we are working toward consistency and attention to detail," said KSC head coach Carrah Fisk Hennessey.  "More timely hits.  Gaining momentum and capitalizing on opportunities.  Our refocus will be attacking our game one pitch at a time."

Over the last eight games, the Owls have hit .283 (17-for-60) with runners in scoring position but have allowed opponents a 39-for-102 (.382) mark.

KSC will host Fitchburg State University on Tuesday, April 9 in their home opening doubleheader starting at 3:00 p.m.