Box Score Box Score

Chris Anderson

Chris Anderson

KEENE, N.H. - In a showdown between two of the top teams in the region, the Keene State baseball squad rallied for a 6-5 victory over Western New England in a non-conference contest Friday afternoon (Apr. 15).

The Owls are now 18-6 after winning their fifth straight game while the Golden Bears fall to 23-8. KSU is ranked fifth in the New England Division III coaches poll while Western New England is second.

The hosts scored two runs in the sixth and pushed across two more in the seventh to overcome a 5-2 deficit and sweep the season series. Keene defeated the Golden Bears 8-4 on March 31 in Springfield.

Junior left-fielder Erik Bergstrom (Enfield, CT) drove in the winning run with a single off the leg of junior relief pitcher Mark DiTommaso (Hebron, CT) who was knocked out of the game on the play. Bergstrom also had a RBI single in the sixth.

Freshman third baseman Nick Vita (Spofford, NH) had a big game with three hits (including a solo homer in the third) and two runs scored from his ninth position in the lineup. Senior catcher Tyler DiPrato (Suffield, CT) also had three hits and threw out a pair of runners, including freshman pinch-runner Jeff Schult (Wappingers Falls, NY) to end the game.

Keene State used five pitchers with senior Ed Lacourse (Manchester, NH) getting the win with an inning of perfect relief. Senior Corey Vogt (Suffield, CT) gave up just a walk in the ninth to earn his fourth save of the season.

Trailing 1-0, Western New England scored three runs in the third on a RBI double by sophomore shortstop Kyle McKelvey (Schenectady, NY), a run-scoring single by sophomore second baseman Mike Rubino (Northford, CT), and sacrifice fly by senior catcher Jason Leclerc (Chicopee, MA).

The Golden Bears tacked on an unearned run in the fourth and took a 5-2 lead in the sixth after sophomore left-fielder Matt Anthonis (Guilford, CT) delivered a two-out run-scoring single that scored senior center-fielder Andrew Fatse (Hampden, MA) who walked to lead-off the inning and stole second.

McKelvey, who also hit ninth in the lineup, finished with two hits and a run scored. Junior first baseman Mike Taylor (Andover, MA) singled, doubled, and scored twice. Sophomore right-fielder Casey Dadio (Branford, CT) also had two hits with a run scored. Senior third baseman Tony Tubia (Tolland, CT) had two walks.

Senior Matt Rogers (Portsmouth, RI) did a nice job allowing eight hits and four runs in six innings. He walked only one batter and fanned five. DiTommaso suffered his first loss in five decisions.