SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – First year
Ashley Connor and sophomore
Olivia Souers combined to allow just six hits and three runs while striking out four and inducing 11 ground ball outs, but the Keene State College softball team was shut out for the first time this season as they dropped a 3-0 decision to Springfield College in a non-conference contest at Potter Field.
A game not on the original schedule, the Owls (9-7) added it – a rare single game day – after a game against Clarkson University in Florida was washed away in mid-March, playing Springfield (14-5) for the second time this season on separate dates after an 8-3 loss in the Sunshine State.
It was a scoreless game through three before the home team broke through with what turned out to be the only runs they would need in a three-run fourth. Only one of the runs scored on a hit, as Brynlee Eckles walked to begin the inning, moved to second on a wild pitch, and then to third on a grounder to second. Taylor Falotico's fielder's choice in which KSC could not throw out Eckles at the plate provided the game's first run, and the Pride made it 2-0 when Falotico scored on a wild pitch as Amelia DeRosa was stealing second. Reilly Hunter then added an RBI triple down the right field line to plate the third run – and that ended up being all the offense in the game.
The game could have taken on a different feel early but stranded a runner in scoring position in each of the first two innings sandwiching a 1-2-3 first for Connor, who got the start in the circle. Springfield had three straight reach base with two down in the second, but stranded them, and KSC left runners at the corners in the top of the third after
Kalle Halvorsen walked with one out and
Abby Weiterman singled to center with two down.
Connor got out of her most foreboding trouble up to that point in the third after three of the first four reached before she got Kate Katsetos to ground right back to her to cut down the possible first run at the plate and then got Rachel Powers to fly to right. Keene State again put two on in the fourth, with
Jayme Kiley beginning the frame with a line drive single to center. But a fly out and a fielder's choice followed before Connor walked, and the Owls again came up empty, stranding seven runners on base through four offensive innings.
DeRosa (9-3) and Julia Rimshnick then retired the last nine in a row as KSC was limited to four hits in a game that saw just one extra-base hit combined between the two teams. DeRosa allowed four hits and walked three over five innings, striking out four, before Rimshnick got a six-out save.
Connor (2-2) allowed three runs and five hits in five innings but took the loss, walking four and striking out four. She got nine ground ball outs. Souers pitched a scoreless sixth, but the Owls' last baserunner turned out to be Connor's walk in the fourth.
"We played well against a good team today," said KSC head coach Haley Chandler. "
Ashley Connor pitched fantastic against an aggressive lineup and Liv Souers closed it down for us. We hit the ball hard but just did not cash in with runners on. It is never fun losing, but we played well and as long as we keep learning and improving, we will be in good shape."
KSC will, at long last, make their 2026 home debut when they host Vermont State University Castleton (10-5, 2-0 LEC) on Thursday (April 9) for a doubleheader that begins at 2:30 p.m. It will also mark the Owls' opener of conference play – the last of the nine teams to begin their league slate. Six of the nine teams have already played four conference games.
