KEENE, N.H. (courtesy Keene State sports information) – The Keene State College baseball team took advantage of a nine-run fifth inning to post a come-from-behind 15-8 non-conference win over Brandeis University at windy Owl Athletic Complex on Thursday afternoon.
Keene State, winners of six out of its last seven games, improves to 20-13-1. Brandeis falls to 11-22.
The Judges took a 4-1 lead in the fourth on a two-run single by senior RF Artie Posch (Hopedale, Mass./Hopedale) and a two-run double by senior 2B James Likis (Cambridge, Mass./Cambridge Rindge and Latin)
KSC got two runs back in the bottom on the fourth on run-producing hits by senior Jesse Cahill (Cranston, R.I.) and junior Bobby Doyon (Keene, N.H.).
The Owls broke the game open with their nine-run fifth inning. Senior Anthony Cipolla (Glastonbury, Conn.) knocked in two runs with a single up the middle and sophomore Greg Bates (Salem, N.H.) brought in two runs with a wind-blown triple to right field to highlight the uprising.
KSC added three more runs in the seventh with sophomore Vinnie Ganz (Waterbury, Conn.) delivering a two-run triple.
Keene State batters sprayed 17 hits around the field. Sophomore Kyle Morrill (Auburn, N.H.) went four-for-five while Cipolla, senior Keith Patnode (Keene, N.H.), Bates, Ganz, and sophomore Erik Bergstrom (Enfield, Conn.) each had two hits.
Posch led the Judges’ 14-hit attack with three hits and three RBIs. Likis chipped in with two hits and three RBIs.
The second of four pitchers in the game for the Owls, sophomore Spencer Hutchinson (Broad Brook, Conn.), 1-0, picked up his first win of the season.
Rookie Dylan Britton (Poughquag, N.Y./Ardsley) took the loss for Brandeis. The Judges close out their season this weekend with road games at Wheaton (Mass.) on Saturday and at UMass-Dartmouth on Sunday. Both games are slated for 1 p.m. starts.