KEENE, N.H.—Sophomore Camden Thomas scattered two hits over eight innings to lead the Keene State College baseball team two wins from its first Little East Conference tournament championship in 17 years with a 4-0 win over the University of Southern Maine on Thursday at Owl Athletic Complex.
Records
- Keene State: 22-15
- Southern Maine: 20-19
How it Happened
Keene State got the only run it would need in the second inning, as Jonathan Chatfield's seemingly harmless grounder went under the glove of second baseman Connor Quigley, and he moved to third on an errant pickoff throw.
Shea Zina then deposited a single right between the back-tracking Quigley and right fielder Hunter Brissette to score Chatfield.
The Huskies, batting as the home team, briefly threatened, as Peter Keblinsky walked to open the second inning and moved to third on a pair of groundouts, but was left stranded when Dylan Firmin flew out to right.
Thomas was outstanding, allowing just a pair of fourth inning singles and working out of a bases loaded jam in the same inning by again getting Firmin to fly out to right.
An RBI groundout by Evan McCue increased the lead to 2-0, and Otis Follet doubled in two runs in the eighth for the final margin.
Troy Brennan came on for the ninth and set the Huskies down in order to lock down the win.
The victory moves the Owls to 2-0 in the tournament; Keene State will take on Rhode Island College in a double-winner game at 6 pm at Pappas Field on the campus of Franklin Pierce.
