FRAMINGHAM STATE ELIMINATED FROM NCAA DIVISION III SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
Click here for Framingham State/Keene State box
score
Providence, RI, May 11, 2007 - Junior catcher
Melissa Scata (Medway, MA) paced an 11-hit attack
with a 3-for-4 performance, including a pair of doubles, as No. 2
Keene State College powered past No. 8 Framingham State, 9-2, in
the elimination bracket of the NCAA Division III Softball New
England Regional Tournament on Friday morning at the Dayna A. Bazar
Softball Complex.
Keene State College (28-8) advances to play the loser of the
second-seeded Tufts University vs. third-seeded Wellesley College
game (noon) at noon on May 12, while Framingham State (21-21) bows
out of the tournament and concludes its season.
The Owls jumped out to an early six-run advantage, scoring three
runs in both the second and third innings. Scata started the surge
in the second stanza with a leadoff double to right center field as
Keene State sent seven batters to the plate. D'Amato drove in the
first run of the morning with a sacrifice fly to center field,
chasing Framingham State senior starting DeAnna Curtis
(Lakeville, MA) after just 1.1 innings of work. Senior
right fielder Kari Gardner (Grafton, MA) rudely
greeted junior relief pitcher Kelly Knox (Framingham,
MA) with a two-RBI double to left center field to cap the
frame.
Keene State capitalized on a pair of errors in the top of the third
to extend its lead to 6-0. D'Amato delivered the knock-out blow,
driving in a pair of runs with a one-out, single to right
field.
Framingham State pushed a run across in the third and fourth
innings to cut the deficit to 6-2, but the Owls responded with
three insurance runs in the fifth to seal the victory.
Keene State junior starting pitcher Ashlee Nicholson
(Swanzey, NH) hurled her 13th complete game of the
campaign, allowing just two runs on six hits to raise her record to
15-2. The junior right-hander overmatched the Rams, striking
out nine on the day.
Framingham State senior center fielder Maki Faria (Acton,
MA) led the Rams' attack with a 2-for-2 showing from the
dish with a run scored, while third basemen sophomore third baseman
Colleen Clancy (Lynn, MA) also logged two hits in four
attempts.
Sophomore left fielder Allie D'Amato (Bristol,
CT) posted a team-high three RBIs, while seven of the
Owls' starting nine registered at least one hit.
