Keene State Softball split an out-of-conference away series against Smith College on Sunday, March 29, winning the opener 15-12 and dropping the second game 9-1. The Owls were coming off a split series with the Mariners of Mitchell College.
The Owls won the chaotic first game 15-12. Junior shortstop Elyse Picard opened up the game with a two-run homer, but the Owls’ bats went dry for the next three innings while Smith racked up seven runs.
The Owls returned fire in the fifth, sending home ten runs in the inning. Sophomore catcher Abby Weiterman hammered a double to left center, sending home two RBIs. First-year outfielder Jayme Kiley followed up with a single of her own that let two more Owls score. A groundout by first-year third baseman Gianna Garofola scored another, followed by Kiley scoring on a passed ball thrown to first-year outfielder Jaelyn Boretti. A fielder’s choice advanced another run to leave the owls at 9-7. Capping off the inning, Weitermann doubled again to send the loaded bases home. The Bears uncorked a three-run homer in their frame to bring the game to a 12-10 Owls lead.
The Owls cleaned up in the seventh, with Weiterman singling and driving home her sixth RBI of the game, and first-year infielder Cainen Avery sending home two more RBIs on an error. Smith scored twice in the 7th, but the effort was too little, too late and Keene State took the game 15-12.
Smith turned the tables in the second game, winning the contest 9-1 in six innings. Weiterman scored once again to even the score after a Smith run scored in the first inning, but the Owls were quickly buried. Smith scored five runs in the fourth inning to bring the game to a 7-1 lead. A two-run shot finished off the Owls in the sixth, ending the game early and earning the Owls a 1-1 series.
With the split, Keene State moves to 8-5 out of conference. The Owls next take the field against Vermont State Castleton for their Little East Conference (LEC) home opener on April 4.
Frank LeBlanc can be contacted at
