Middlebury dropped a pair of non-league games on Tuesday afternoon at Keene State. The Owls scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning and held on for a 4-3 win in the opener. Katie Newell was the story in the second game, pitching a complete game two hitter with five strikeouts and a walk in a 2-0 shutout victory. The Owls, who were hosting the Panthers for the first time in Keene, improve to 18-11, while Middlebury falls to 20-9. 

Keene State fell behind 3-0 in the first game. Middlebury scored one run in the top of the first inning on an RBI double by Jessica Poracky and two more in the third on a two-run home run by Jessa Hoffman.

Jessica Fiorenza began Keene State's four-run rally in the bottom of the third when she walked with the bases loaded to bring in the first run. Meryl Ragaini hit a double off the top of the fence in right field to score two more runs and tie the game. Nicole Dupuis brought home the fourth and go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly. 

Mariah Crisp, who got the complete game win to improve her record to 14-3, kept the Panthers off the board the rest of the way. She gave up three runs on four hits with four strikeouts and two walks. Alexa Lesenskyj took the loss for Middlebury. Anna Glassman went 3-3 in the game for the Owls. 

Keene State scored the only two runs in the third inning of the second game. Molly Dussault opened the inning with a double to left center and came around to score on an error.  Bracken brought home the Owls' second run with an RBI single.

Newell did the rest, setting the side down in order in four of the innings, including the seventh when she got the Panthers to hit into a double play.  Neve Stearns took the loss for Middlebury.

KSC had five hits in the nightcap.  Dupuis and Ragaini had the lone extra base hits. Dupuis had a double in the fourth and Ragaini doubled in the sixth. Middlebury was held to just three singles in the game.

Middlebury returns to action with a key NESCAC West series at Wesleyan this weekend. 

Game 1 Box – Game 2 Box