Keene State Baseball inched two wins closer to breaking even on their overall season record after an eventful doubleheader against the Western Connecticut State University (WestConn) Wolves.
GAME 1: Keene State conquers WestConn
The Owls entered the day in West Hartford, Conn. with a three-game winning streak looking to build off the momentum against a Little East Conference (LEC) opponent and did not disappoint.
Junior outfielder and pitcher Shea Zina took the mound for the Owls in a game that was initially going to be held at KSC but was moved to WestConn.
The Wolves started off scoring in the top of the first inning after a walk and a pair of groundouts advanced a runner to third, then scoring off an RBI single.
Sophomore second baseman and outfielder Jonathan Chatfield secured the first hit of the game for KSC in their half of the second, but the rest of the Owls’ offense stayed quiet.
The second proved uneventful for both sides, with only WestConn drawing a walk.
In the third, the Owls faced some trouble after Zina gave up a pair of singles to start off the inning. A throwing error plated a run for the Wolves, as well as an RBI single, increasing their lead to 3-0.
After allowing a couple of walks and loading the bases, KSC gave Zina the hook and gave the ball to first-year pitcher Dylan Ellison, who left all three men stranded, reducing the damage for the Owls.
KSC struck back in the third with a leadoff double off the bat of sophomore infielder Evan McCue, followed by a single. Sophomore outfielder Tommy Ahlers popped a sacrifice flyout, plating the Owls’ first run of the game.
Fortunately for the Owls, Ellison kept the Wolves at bay in the fourth and fifth, allowing KSC to start their comeback bid in the fifth.
McCue slashed a single to right field with just one out, followed by a single by sophomore catcher and pitcher Evan Cali. Ahlers reached based on a fielder’s choice while the Wolves opted to put Cali out at second.
Ahlers then stole second base, giving the Owls a prime opportunity with two men in scoring position that they took advantage of quickly.
Graduate student first baseman and outfielder Brendan Eaton mashed a two-RBI single to center, tying things up 3-3. Chatfield then doubled to right, plating Eaton and giving the Owls the lead 4-3.
WestConn looked to answer the Owls in the sixth, loading the bases off the bats of three singles, but a double play fizzled out the offensive rally.
Sophomore pitcher David Floyd took the mound in the seventh, aiming to keep the Wolves quiet. While Floyd gave up two singles in the inning, he drew a swinging strikeout to maintain the Owls’ lead.
Floyd continued to stomp out the Wolves’ batters in the eighth, drawing two groundouts and a strikeout leading the Owls into the bottom of the inning with a still-narrow 4-3 lead.
In the eight, KSC blew the doors off of the game in a massive seven-run rally. It began with Chatfield doubling to left with one out. Sophomore infielder Otis Follet notched an RBI triple. Sophomore utility player Hamilton Barnes followed Follet’s triple with an RBI single, increasing the Owls lead to 6-3.
After Barnes stole second base, a single by first-year outfielder Ethan Rainha allowed McCue to plate Barnes off an RBI single. Now 7-3, Cali drew a walk. Ahlers struck a two-RBI single right up the middle, plating Rainha and McCue.
Cali scored off a wild pitch and Eaton secured an RBI single to conclude the rally, putting KSC in a commanding 11-3 lead.
Though the Owls gave up a run off an RBI groundout in the ninth, the game ended 11-4, showing promise to start off the day.
GAME 2: Owls sweep Wolves after four-run win
First-year pitcher Camden Thomas took the mound to start off the second game of the day, quickly putting away the Wolves in the first inning with a strikeout and a double play.
The Owls started off scoring early, with a leadoff double from Ahlers and an RBI double from Follet, putting them ahead 1-0.
The top of the second showed some early troubles for Thomas, allowing two walks, with both runners moving into scoring positions after a passed ball. However, a strikeout and a groundout ended the threat.
In the third, Thomas put away the Wolves’ batters in order with three Ks.
Meanwhile, the Owls, in their half of the third, sparked their offense up with a single by Eaton. Chatfield then got hit by a pitch, putting two men on base, which allowed Follet to hit an RBI single to right.
Barnes then secured an RBI single of his own, and the offensive rally concluded dramatically with Follet stealing home, leaving the Owls with a 4-0 lead heading into the fourth.
Thomas’ pitching began to falter in the fourth, giving up a leadoff double followed by a walk. A wild pitch advanced both runners into scoring position.
The Wolves’ outfielder Luke Dawson took advantage of this, plating two runs off a single to left field. After Thomas conceded another single, the Owls swapped pitchers, having sophomore pitcher Troy Brennan take the ball.
Though the following innings proved uneventful for both sides’ offense, Brennan proved pivotal in the Owls’ win, giving up only one hit over four and one-third innings.
In the eighth, KSC added on once again, stringing together a single and a pair of walks to load the bases with two outs. Cali then tapped a two-RBI single to second, putting the Owls ahead 6-2.
First-year pitcher and outfielder George Young closed the game for KSC, putting the Wolves down in order, with Thomas taking the win for the game.
Keene State Baseball will now face another LEC opponent, The University of Massachusetts Boston, for a Saturday doubleheader.
Nathan Hope can be contacted at
nhope@kscequinox.com
