The Keene State College (KSC) baseball team got swept by the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Boston in both games of a Little East Conference (LEC) doubleheader, 3-1 and 7-1, at the Owl Athletic Complex on Saturday, April 22.

Game one

Keene State got six hits, despite their strong outing from the ace Michael Crimi. The Beacons scored all of their runs in the fourth inning, getting an RBI fielder’s choice from Charlie Heugi and a two-run single from Dan Mantoni.

Shelby Iava/ Sports Editor

Keene State finally got on the board in the eighth inning. Zach Rollins led off with a single and Connor Longley launched a fly ball to the right. UMass Boston outfielder Danny Brown made an attempt at the ball, with confusion as to whether he caught it or not. Longley passed Rollins on the basepath, negating what would have been a two-run homer instead turning it into an RBI single. Keene State had the tying run at the plate with two outs in the ninth after pinch hitter David Sevigny was hit by a pitch, but Mac Struthers bounced into a fielder’s choice to end the game. Rollins and Longley finished with two hits for Keene State. Crimi (4-2) took the loss, striking out seven in 8.2 innings of work.

Game two 

The Owls had 10 hits, but left 13 runners on in the second game. A balk and a fielder’s choice brought in two runs in the second for UMass Boston, which added two more on an RBI triple from Nick Herzog.

The Owls had the bases loaded with two in the sixth, but Nate Rossi struck out at the end. Tom Meucci walked and scored on Rollins’ single in the seventh inning. Longley followed with a walk, but Connor Walsh grounded into a 6-4-3 double play. UMass Boston added three more runs in the eighth on a wild pitch and an error.

Tim Coppinger (0-4) took the loss, allowing four runs in three innings of work, and Nate Pederson scattered four hits in 3.2 innings of scoreless relief. Longley and Christian Bourgea both had three hits for Keene State.

Shelby Iava can be contacted at siava@kscequinox.com