WALTHAM, Mass. - The Keene State College baseball team scored in double figures for the 10th time this season as the Owls defeated host Brandeis University, 17-8, on Stein Diamond.
Keene State (11-8) pounded out 20 hits, as 13 different players had safeties. Nine of their 20 hits went for extra bases, including seven doubles and three home runs. Leading the way for the Owls was junior DH Keith Patnode (Keene, N.H./Keene), who went 3-5 with a team-high four RBI and two runs scored, his third home run of the season and his fourth double. Sophomore RF Bobby Doyon (Keene, N.H./Keene) went 2-6 with three RBI and two runs scored and his fourth home run of the season, while senior CF Jeff Perkins (Dunbarton, N.H./Goffstown) and senior 2B Jamie Chevalier (Amherst, N.H./Souhegan) each had two RBI and three runs scored out of the top two spots in the batting order.
Brandeis (11-14) had 14 hits and three round-trippers of their own. Going deep were sophomore 3B Tony Deshler (Pepperrell, Mass./Lawrence Acad.), sophomore 1B Pat Nicholson (E. Walpole, Mass./Walpole) and junior Drake Livada (Cape Elizabeth, Maine/Cape Elizabeth). Deshler finished 2-5 with an RBI and two runs scored, hitting his second home run of the season. Nicholson was 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, while also contributing a double. Livada's homer came in a pinch-hitting appearance and was a two-run shot. His and Nicholson's blasts were their first of the season. Rookie SS Sean O'Hare (Southampton, Mass./Hampshire Regional) led the Judges with three hits on the day as well as a stolen base.
Junior Ben Sonberg (Bow, N.H./Bow) earned the win for the visitors, giving up 10 hits in five innings of work. He struck out two and walked one, allowing five earned runs. Brandeis junior Kyle Ritchie (Brewster, Mass./Nauset Regional) suffered the loss, going 5.1 innings and giving up 10 runs (seven earned) on 10 hits. He struck out three and walked three.
Brandeis is next in action Tuesday when they host Tufts University at 3:00 p.m., while Keene State travels to Amherst College the same day at 3:30 p.m.