Owls hold off Ephs 12-9

WILLIAMSTOWN, MASS. 4/4/12 – The Keene State baseball team jumped out to an early lead and hung on for a 12-9 non-conference win over Williams College at Bobby Coombs Field in Williamstown, Mass on Wednesday.

"We put up some early runs and held on for dear life," said KSC Coach Ken Howe.

The game was played under varying weather conditions, but a little rain, snow and sleet and howling 35 mph winds couldn't prevent the Owls (15-5) from extending their winning streak to eight games. "It was a harrowing experience every time a ball went up in the air," said Howe.

Undaunted, Keene State went up 6-1. Senior Erik Bergstrom (Enfield, Conn.), the LEC's player of the week had four hits and three RBIs in the game. His single up the middle game KSC a 1-0 lead in the first inning.

The Owls tacked on five more runs in the second with senior Greg Bates (Salem, N.H.) delivering a two-run double and Bergstrom knocking in another run with a single to right. Bergstrom scored the final run of the inning when he and senior Peter Burgio (Bolton, Conn.) pulled off a double steal with Bergstrom swiping home.

After the Epps (5-10) came back with three runs in the bottom of the frame, the Owls scored one run in the third and two more in the fourth to go up 9-3. Bergstrom had an RBI triple to right center. And came home on Burgio's single in the two-run fourth inning.

Williams scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth to make it a 9-6 game.

Both teams' trade runs in the sixth with Burgio, who finished the game with three hits and three RBIs, coming through with a RBI double in the sixth.

Keene Stated added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth. Senior Kyle Morrill (Auburn, N.H.) had an RBI single and Burgio knocked Morrill in with a double to center.

Williams made things interesting in the ninth, scoring two runs and leaving two runners on base. Senior Kyle O'Brien (Springfield, N.H.) struggled in the ninth, but got the final out on a ground out to second to nail down the win for the Owls.

Keene State finished the game with 17 hits. Bates and freshman Ian Seawards (Dover, N.H.) also had three hits in the game. Morrill was 2-4 with a couple of RBIs.

Junior Chris Crutcher (Londonderry, N.H.) got the start for the Owls, but left the game in the second after giving up three runs and walking five batters. Junior Joe Katin (Byfield, Mass.) went 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Junior Tim Quagliaroli (Windsor Locks, Conn.) got the win for the Owls to improve his record to 2-1. He surrendered one run in his 2.1 innings of relief. Junior John Coughlin (Litchfield, N.H.) and O'Brien finished up for Keene State.

Keene State returns home to face Framingham State on Thursday. The game was originally scheduled as a road game, but has been moved to Owl Athletic Complex.