Even with this weekend’s rain around New England and in Danbury, Connecticut the Keene State College softball team opened Little East Conference play with a split with Western Connecticut State University.
According to keeneowls.com, the Owls lost 2-1 to the Colonials in 11 innings in game one. Senior Mariah Crisp threw 10.1 innings and allowed just three hits, two runs and struck out nine. However, Crisp was outdueled by Colonials starter Emily Cintorino who allowed just one run, five hits, one walk and struck out six.
The game remained a 0-0 tie all the way up until the eleventh inning as Keene State only had five hits on the afternoon. Also, Western Connecticut had just one hit up until the eleventh inning.
File Photo / Tim Smith
Starting in the tenth inning, a runner was placed on second base to start the inning with nobody out. After a scoreless tenth, the Owls were finally able to crack the run column in the eleventh.
Senior Stephanie Long was placed on second base to start the eleventh. Long was able to advance to third base on a foul out off the bat of junior Kayla Votto. On that same play, Long came around to score on a throwing error by Western’s right fielder Jenna Gaudioso to make it 1-0 Owls.
In the bottom of the eleventh, the Colonials won it 2-1 on Alexandra Lafemina two run walkoff double.
The second game of the doubleheader featured more offense and Keene State was able to come out on top 13-8. The Owls pounded out 12 hits in that game and first-year pitcher Molly St. Germain went 6.2 innings on the mound to pick up the victory.
Keene State was able to strike first scoring in the top of the first junior Jen Galvotti’s RBI single and sophomore Olvia Indorf RBI double to take a 2-0 lead. The Colonials then struck for one run in the home half of the first and then plated two runs in the second inning to make it 3-2.
The big difference in the ballgame was Keene State’s seven-run fourth inning, which propelled them to victory. In that inning, five different players drove in runs. Galvotti hit a two run homer after senior Morgan Fallon’s two run double. The frame gave the Owls a 9-3 lead.
Every Owls hitter in the lineup reached base at least once with Galvotti leading the way with three RBIs and Long and Fallon each knocking in a pair.
The Colonials struck for two runs in the sixth and three in seventh but fell short making it 13-8. First-year pitcher Leah Rowe was called upon to get the final out of the ballgame and she did after allowing two runs.
As of April 4, the Owls have a 6-10 record overall and a 1-1 record in the LEC. Keene State will open the season at home on Saturday April 9, at 12 p.m for a doubleheader LEC showdown against Rhode Island College.
Brian can be contacted at bclemmenson@kscequinox.com
