MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Brendan Eaton broke out in a big way, doubling twice and driving in five runs, to lead an offensive attack that featured five multi-hit performances in support of starter Daniel Cantafi in his collegiate debut as the Keene State College baseball team piled on late to post a comfortable 9-3 victory over Salem State University Monday afternoon at Pelicans Ballpark, the minor league facility of a Chicago Cubs affiliate.

Records

• Keene State:  2-3
• Salem State:  0-3

Postgame Interview (Coach Blood)

How It Happened
Originally scheduled to be a doubleheader with two seven-inning games before early rain forced a change to a late afternoon single nine-inning game, the Owls posted an important early-season bounce back after dropping two games in disappointing fashion Sunday to open the trip.  KSC went 4-for-24 with runners on base over 15 offensive innings yesterday, but today posted nine hits in such situations.  The Owls finished with 14 overall, five of which were doubles, and had traffic on the bases every time Eaton came up, and he made sure to cash in.

Keene State built a 3-0 lead through two innings against Salem State starter Mason Consigli, but saw the Vikings draw within one in the fourth on a triple from Owen Duggan and a sacrifice fly from Bobby Jellison that was dropped.  Those were the only blemishes against the line of Cantafi, a freshman making the first start of his career.  The Glastonbury, Conn. native induced three ground outs in a 1-2-3 second and retired the side in order in the third.  He retied the final three in the fourth despite allowing the two runs, and then worked around a hit batter with ease in both the fifth and sixth innings.  Evan Cali ended the fifth by throwing out Conor Dolan attempting to steal by a wide margin.  Cantafi (1-0) allowed two hits and two runs over his six innings, walking one and striking out three (all from the third inning on).  His win was ensured when the Owls broke open a 3-2 game with three runs in the sixth, one in the seventh, and two in the eighth.  Tommy Ahlers chopped a grounder in front of the catcher and beat out the throw to first to kick off the KSC half of the sixth before Hamilton Barnes sacrificed him to second.  Nathaniel Hudson followed with a single to put runners on the corners and was lifted for pinch-runner Mark Barrett, who took second to put a pair in scoring position at a key time.  A strikeout and a walk followed, leading to a bases loaded and two out situation for Eaton, and he came through with likely the biggest swing of the game – a long fly ball to left that was only a few feet shy of a grand slam.  It nonetheless plated three runs and put KSC up 6-2, with Eaton advancing to third on an errant throw from the left fielder Duggan.

SSU got one back in the next half inning when TJ Beninati walked and later scored on consecutive singles from James and Conor Dolan, but KSC kept grinding down the Vikings' pitching.  Ahlers walked with two outs in the seventh, stole second, and then scored on the hot-hitting Barnes' single to right as the Owls took a 7-3 edge.  Reliever Shea Zina struck out two in the eighth and eventually got a three inning save out of his appearance.  Keene State tacked on two more runs for good measure in their last trip to the plate of the day as Beayon smoked a gap double to left center, Jonathan Chatfield walked, and Eaton capped off a big day by scoring both with another double.  He was thrown out advancing to third, but broke out of a season-opening 2-for-13 stretch in which he did not have an extra-base hit.  Eaton had 18 RBI in 29 games last year, and now has seven through five games this year.

Ahlers finished 3-for-3 at the plate including an RBI double in the second (one of two two-baggers on the day) that brought home his team's second run, a walk, and two runs.  Barnes (2-4, 2 RBI, SAC, R), Hudson (2-4), and Beayon (2-4, 2B, BB, R) also contributed multi-hit performances as KSC scored more than four runs for the first time this season.  They had walked 19 times in the first four games (six today), but were in search of the big hits that began to come on this day.

Consigli (0-1) took the loss for Salem State, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits in four-plus innings.  He walked two and whiffed six.  All three Viking arms allowed three runs.  Duggan finished 2-for-4 with an RBI triple (their lone extra-base hit) at the plate for SSU, while Conor Dolan was 2-for-3 with an RBI and James Dolan 2-for-4.

Around the Horn

• KSC was 5-for-6 stealing bases on the day and is 10-for-12 on the season.  They stole only 32 in 34 games last year.
• Barnes and Ahlers, both freshmen, have combined to go 10-for-24 (.417) with four doubles at the plate this season.
• The Owls have won four of six all-time meetings, the last two in Myrtle Beach by a combined score of 22-4.
• Salem State is coached by Keene State College alum and former baseball player Andrew Gummow, who is in his first season.  The Vikings went 23-19 a year ago under Jason Falcon, who is now at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (KSC is scheduled to travel to New York on Saturday).

Up Next

• Keene State is slated for a single game against Wells College (5-5) on Tuesday morning (March 14) at 9:00 a.m. in Myrtle Beach.
• Salem State, after falling to No. 10 Endicott College 7-0 and Mount Aloysius College 9-2 prior to today, will aim for their and Gummow's first victory on Tuesday night (March 14) when they take on State University of New York at Plattsburgh (1-3) at 6:30 p.m. at Ebbets Field.