Keene State rallies, eliminates USM

MANSFIELD, Conn. – The Keene State College Owls scored five runs over the final three innings to erase a one-run deficit and eliminate the University of Southern Maine Huskies 7-3 in the Little East Conference tourney Friday night.

Eastern Connecticut State University beat USM earlier in the day 16-5 to send the Huskies to the elimination game. Keene State must beat ECSU twice today to claim the conference crown.

Nick Vardaro drove in USM’s first run in the nightcap with a single in the third inning. Max Arsenault’s RBI fielder’s choice gave USM another run in the fifth while its third run occurred when Collin Henry scored on a two-out infield error in the sixth.

Pat Kinslow singled twice for the Huskies.

In the afternoon game, Randy Re hit a three-run home run and a triple to help ECSU beat USM.

Melvin Castillo homered twice for the Warriors and three other players hit home runs.

Ryan Bourque homered twice for the Huskies and Vardaro hit a home run and a single.

Eastern Conn. (33-9) 330 203 050 – 16 15 1

So. Maine (27-14) 001 020 200 – 5 12 3

Jagodzinski, Iverson (8), LaVorgna (9) and Cooney, Magliola (7); Burleson, Blackman (5), Stacy (6), Curran (7), Gray (8), Nickerson (9) and Arsenault, Yanni (9)

Keene State (28-12) 001 001 221 – 7 10 1

So. Maine (27-15) 001 011 000 – 3 6 3

Young, Sonberg (5) and Grainger; Schmidt, Foley (7), Therrian (7), Blackman (9) and Arsenault

Williams 1, Bowdoin 0

At Williamstown, Mass., Sean Gleeson hit an RBI single in the fourth inning to lead Williams College past Bowdoin College in the NESCAC Tournament.

Bowdoin will face the loser of the Amerhst-Tufts game on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the double-elimination tourney. Williams will play the winner of that game.

Dan Benz allowed just one hit and four walks while striking out seven to record the shutout for the Ephs. Chris Kenney tripled, doubled and singled.

Chris McCann singled, walked twice and scored three bases to lead Bowdoin.

Bowdoin (18-15) 000 000 000 – 0 1 0

Williams (23-8) 000 100 00x – 1 7 0

Pace, Butland (8) and Buckley; Benz and Kenney