Keene State Owls faced the No. 4-ranked Salve Regina Seahawks and lost 14-7 in its Sunday afternoon match at Reynolds Field in Newport, Rhode Island. The Owls started strong, holding an early lead and performing well, but they struggled to limit Salve Regina’s offense, allowing six runs to the Seahawks in the fourth inning.
Keene State scored its first hit and run in the opening inning, with sophomore second baseman Trevor Snow tripling to right field and bringing in sophomore centerfielder Derek Finlay. In the second inning, Keene State extended its lead as junior designated hitter Lucas Rogers doubled to left-center, allowing sophomore right fielder Domminic Tagliaferro to score.
Salve Regina took the lead in the third inning when sophomore outfielder Dylan Cimini hit a two-run home run, and sophomore infielder Grady Schopps followed with a sacrifice fly, making it 5-2 in favor of Salve Regina. In the fourth inning, the Seahawks broke the game open, scoring six runs: Captain senior outfielder Shane Williams hit an RBI double, Cimini added an RBI single, sophomore second base Jake Harring drove in a run with an RBI double and senior infielder Matt Stokes connected for a two-run double, increasing their lead to 11-3. Keene State senior catcher Evan Cali then hit an RBI home run to right field in the bottom of the fourth, raising Keene State’s total to five against Salve Regina’s 11. The Seahawks added two runs in the sixth when sophomore outfielder Danny Rogers doubled to center, scoring Stokes and senior infielder Elliot Hamilton. The Seahawks tacked on a final unearned run in the eighth inning from a groundout by Danny Rogers.
Keene State’s most productive inning was the fifth, as they managed to score two runs after Salve Regina walked three consecutive batters following Snow’s hit, loading the bases for the Owls.
Salve Regina proved too much for Keene State, consistently adding runs in multiple innings. The Seahawks scored six or eight runs across six or eight innings and finished with 14 runs from 15 at-bats. Danny Rogers contributed with five hits and four RBIs. Stokes had three RBIs and a stolen base, while Cimini’s two-run homer in the third extended the Seahawks’ lead, which they maintained until the end.
Keene State’s pitching rotation struggled for consistency. The Owls used eight pitchers in the game. First-year pitcher Trey Kuzmeski started, lasting 1.1 innings with four walks and two runs allowed. Senior reserve pitcher Daniel Cantafi gave up three runs in one inning. Overall, Keene State pitchers allowed 14 runs, with only senior pitcher Troy Brennan delivering a clean inning of relief.
Salve Regina’s senior pitcher James Keating earned the win for the Seahawks after pitching three relief innings and striking out five batters.
Alexander Vaccaro can be contacted at
avaccaro@kscequinox.com
