TROY, N.Y. – Two freshmen hit their first career home runs while Tommy Ahlers and Jonathan Chatfield combined to post 13 hits as the Keene State College baseball team recorded 30 in total, splitting with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Saturday at Karl Steffen Ballpark.  The Engineers scored 11 runs across the sixth and seventh innings to take the opener 17-11 before KSC rebounded for their fourth win in five games, 6-5 in the second contest.

After a dormant start to the season in which the Owls (4-5) scored just nine runs in an 0-4 start, they have since scored 49 runs in the last five games – an average of 9.8 per game.  To no surprise, it has coincided with hot streaks from Ahlers, who was 7-for-11 with a triple and two RBI on the day, and Jonathan Chatfield, who broke out with a 6-for-10 day.  Luke Anderson is also sizzling with a .391 average over a six-game hitting streak, while freshman Anthony DiGiacomo is 6-for-13 in the last three games with a double and a home run.

KSC snapped a six-game losing streak against RPI (6-5) by breaking a 4-4 tie in the ninth inning as Ahlers started it off with a bunt single and Quin Barton followed with a sacrifice.  Domminic Tagliaferro was hit by a pitch and Chatfield followed with a single to load the bases, and the Owls cashed in, retaking the lead on Ethan Rainha's long sacrifice fly to right.  DiGiacomo tacked on what proved to be a critical insurance run with a two-out RBI single up the middle that made it 6-4.  Ian Oehlschlaeger brought the Engineers back within a run thanks to a one-out homer in the bottom half, and after Charlie Lapp stuck out looking for the second out, the next three reached (single, two walks) to put the tying run 90 feet away and the winning run in scoring position.  However, Liam Conley – who ultimately struck out the side – whiffed pinch-hitter Ayush Krishnappa on a 1-2 pitch for his second save to lock up KSC's win.

The Owls had taken a 3-1 lead in the fourth after an error on a grounder to short by Alec Varano extended the inning (and plated a run) before Evan Cali doubled home two with a pulled double down the right field line.  RPI answered each time, though, as they drew back within a run in the bottom of the fifth.  Rainha, making his season debut, singled home a run to make it 4-2 in the seventh, but pinch-hitter Aidan Hicks responded with a two-run single off new reliever George Young in the seventh to tie the game.

Despite eight free baserunners (six walks, two hit batters), it was a far more effective pitching performance by KSC in the nightcap, who struck out 12 Engineers.  Camden Thomas got the start and went 4.1 innings, allowing four hits and two runs while walking three and striking out five.  Troy Brennan struck out four over two innings of relief, allowing four hits and two runs.

The Owls knocked around RPI starter Rylan Wade, but he wound up not allowing an earned run (three in total) despite allowing nine hits in five innings.  He walked one and whiffed five.  Zach Zajac (0-2) pitched the final two innings and took the loss.

KSC racked up 16 hits, though just two for extra bases.  Chatfield (4-5), Ahlers (3-5), DiGiacomo (3-5), Anderson (2-5), and Rainha (2-3) all had multi-hit efforts.

The Owl offense was active in the opener as well, but four pitchers combined to allow a season-high 17 runs – 13 of which came in RPI's final three innings after KSC carried a 5-4 lead into the bottom of the sixth.  The two biggest blows were a two-run double by Oehlschlaeger that put the home team back in front (6-5), and then four batters later Krishnappa split the gap with two outs for a bases-clearing double that made it 9-5.

Keene State fell into a deep hole after allowing six more in the seventh including a leadoff homer by Kameron Levesque that accounted for one of RPI's 11 extra-base hits (eight doubles, three home runs).  He and Krishnappa each plated a pair with two-run singles later in the frame as the Engineers batted around while making it 15-5.

The Owls chopped the deficit in half with a five-run eighth thanks to three extra-base hits of their own – an RBI triple for Ahlers, an RBI ground-rule double for Rainha, and a two-run double for Chatfield – but the first three reached in the bottom half and RPI quickly got two back to make it 17-10.

KSC had seven extra-base hits themselves in the first game, including the first career home runs for both Cody Quinn (in the ninth) and DiGiacomo, who gave the Owls an early 3-1 lead in the second with a towering two-run shot to left center.

Jake Jachym started and allowed six hits and four runs for the Owls before Daniel Cantafi (0-1) took the loss, allowing three hits and five runs while waking three and striking out three.  Ben Belliss (1-0) got the victory for RPI thanks to two scoreless frames, allowing three hits and two strikeouts.  Starter Andrew Gaughan was not terribly effective over 4.1 frames, allowing six hits and five runs (four earned) with four walks and two strikeouts.

"We did not command the baseball or pitch with conviction in the first game," said Keene State head coach Justin Blood.  "Cam gave us a good start in game two and we got quality outings from Troy, George, and Liam. For the most part we swung the bats very well all day.  We got some good swings from guys off the bench as well.  Right back at it again tomorrow with another quality opponent."

KSC raised their team batting average to .291 with a 30-for-82 (.366) day at the plate.

The Owls visit the United States Coast Guard Academy (4-3) for another doubleheader tomorrow (Sunday, March 16).  First pitch is at noon.  Coast Guard is coming off a 24-11 season that included a 13-3 mark in the NEWMAC before they fell to Babson College 12-10 and then-No. 8 Salve Regina University 4-3 in a pair of tight games in the conference tournament.  RPI hosts another Little East Conference opponent tomorrow, welcome Vermont State University Castleton for a pair starting at the same time.