BABSON PARK, FL – Keene State (4-2) outlasted Saint Joseph's (2-3), 10-9, in a battle featuring a pair of 2010 NCAA DIII Tournament participants on at Webber International University on Tuesday morning. Mike Pratt '13 (Dartmouth, MA) went 3-5 with three doubles and two RBI in the see-saw affair.
The New England region rivals swapped leads on four occasions and the game stood at a 9-9 stalemate with two out in the top of the ninth when Owls shortstop Juan Bisono (New Britain, CT) drove home the eventual winning run with a single up the middle
Junior first baseman Dan Arsenault (Hot Springs, Arkansas) started the top of the ninth by beating Pratt, the SJC first baseman, to the bag for an infield single. After Bisono worked the count to one ball and two strikes, Arsenault took off and stole second base to put himself in scoring position to set up Bisono's game-winning hit.
Senior reliever Corey Vogt (Suffield, Conn.) tossed two scoreless innings in the 8th and 9th to pick up his first victory of the season. Sophomore Tim Quagliaroli (Windsor Locks, Conn.) tossed the first scoreless inning for the Owls, in the seventh to help slow the Monks' bats.
Left-handed reliever Chris Dion (Lawrence, Mass.) took the loss going three innings and allowing just one run for the Monks.
The Owls started the game hot, scoring three runs before recording the first out. Sophomore outfielder Greg Bates (Salem, N.H.) led off the morning contest with a triple. Freshman second-baseman David Valley (Essex Junction, VT) ripped an RBI single through the right-side of the infield for the early 1-0 lead. After Valley stole second base, and a Bobby Doyon (Keene, N.H.) walk, senior catcher Tyler DiPrato (Suffield, Conn.) singled to left-field scoring Valley. Junior Erik Bergstrom (Enfield, Conn.) finished the first inning scoring with RBI single of his own for the 3-0 advantage.
Saint Joseph's would answer right back in the bottom half, scoring three runs of their own. Senior catcher Ian Lee's (Hampden, Maine) sacrifice fly and sophomore first-baseman Mike Pratt's (Dartmouth, Mass.) two-RBI double evened the game at three apiece after the first inning.
The Monks continued to add runs in the second, third and fourth innings. Senior outfielder Todd Keneborus (Hollis Center, Maine) and freshman second-baseman Matt Consigli (Northbridge, Mass.) each had RBI singles for the 5-3 lead after three. A Sam Butts (Saco, Maine) solo home-run, the first jack of his collegiate career, gave Saint Joseph's the 6-3 lead in the fourth.
KSC answered back with two runs in the top of the fifth. Junior third-baseman Kyle Morrill (Auburn, N.H.) started the inning with a leadoff triple to set up DiPrato's RBI single to right-center. The Owls added their second run of the inning on an error by the Monk second-baseman scoring Valley to cut the lead to 6-5.
SJC added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single down the right-field line by shortstop Dan Achorn (Bow, N.H.) to make it 7-5 Monks.
In the sixth, junior Larry Longo (Londonderry, N.H.) led off the inning with a walk after a long at bat fouling off a few pitches. After advancing to second on a fielder's choice and to third on a passed ball, Longo scored on a Bates RBI single to make it 7-6. Morrill tied the game, using his speed, scoring on a passed ball to even the game at seven apiece. Keene State would take the lead for the first time since the top of the first on a balk from relief pitcher Kyle Neagle (Lisbon Falls, Maine) scoring Bates for the 8-7 advantage.
After loading the bases with no outs, Bisono turned a double play but Nate Martin (Chebeague Island, Maine) scored for the Monks tying the game at 8-8. Lee gave SJC the lead on an RBI double to right-center scoring Butts for the 9-8 advantage in the bottom half of the sixth.
The Owls loaded the bases in the top half of the seventh with no outs, as Longo ripped a line drive to right field. Keneborus, the Monks right-fielder, made a diving play and stood up to throw out the Owls base-runner at first for the double play. Scoring on the sacrifice fly, DiPrato evened the game at 9-9 as SJC would get out of the jam allowing only one run.
Bates led the way from the leadoff spot recording three hits for the Owls. DiPrato, Bergstrom and Bisono each contributed with two hits of their own on the afternoon.
Pratt's last five hits have all been doubles and the junior first baseman has gone 5-8 with six RBI in the last two games. Martin, Butts, Keneborus and Chris Campbell '11 (Rochester, NH) all registered a pair of hits in the loss.
Monks starting pitcher Kevin Chamberlain '11 (Scarborough, ME) allowed four earned runs and fanned five in five innings of work.
The Owls return to action tomorrow at 9:30 am against SUNY Oneonta at the Chain of Lakes field number one in Auburndale, Florida. Saint Joseph's plays at 9:30 am tomorrow as well against Wheaton (Mass.) at Lake Myrtle Park.
COURTESY OF KEENE STATE COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION
