Owls Capture 2009 ECAC Softball Crown

From Stuart Kaufman, Sports Information: The second-seeded Keene State softball team won its first ECAC Division III New England crown on May 10, with a convincing 11-1 triumph over top-seeded Brandeis in a rematch of last season’s championship contest. Owl senior centerfielder and leadoff hitter Jenna Patnode earned tournament MVP honors after batting 8-for-15 (.533) in the tournament with six runs scored, two RBIs, and five stolen bases.

“We played with a lot of emotion throughout the tournament,” said KSC Coach Charlie Beach. “They had something to prove after missing the NCAA tournament and wanted to get some redemption from last year’s loss to Brandeis in the championship game.”

Keene State (30-14) got the job done thanks to a nine-run outburst in the second inning. The Owls had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, when sophomore RF Ashley Annis took advantage of a blustery wind to hit a solo home run to right-centerfield, but they blew the game open in their next at bat. KSC sent 14 hitters to the plate, with the first 10 reaching base safely. The big blows in the frame were a two-run double to right by Patnode, followed by a two-run single up the middle by Annis. Katie Allenson added an RBI single to the mix, her team-leading fifth of the tournament.

Rookie hurler Courtney Savoie picked up her second win of the tournament and 13th of the campaign by scattering four hits in five innings, striking out two and walking three. The Owls also turned in excellent defense, making three spectacular catches in the fifth inning, including a diving stab by Bradford at short and a charging catch by Patnode to end the game.