WNEC, (23-8) who had won 10 of their last 11 contests coming into the game, was ranked number 2 in the latest New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) poll, while the Owls (18-6) who have now defeated the Golden Bears twice this season, ranked fifth in the region. "Any win in the region is big for us," said KSC head coach Ken Howe. "They were ranked ahead of us in the last poll so it means a lot to our club."

Vita's blast in the bottom of the third inning woke up the Keene State bats, as Golden Bear starter Matt Rogers (Portsmouth, R.I.) had settled into a groove after allowing a run in the first inning. "Vita really did step on that pitch," said Howe of Vita's round-tripper. "As soon as it left the bat it was a no doubter."

"I just saw a pitch I liked," said Vita of his first career long-ball. "After that at-bat, I felt real comfortable at the plate and continued to hit the ball well."

Offensively, the Owls scored twice in the bottom half of the sixth and seventh innings. In the sixth, the KSC juniors Erik Bergstrom (Enfield, Conn.) and Dan Arsenault (Hot Springs, Arizona) each ripped RBI singles to centerfield to cut the WNEC lead to 5-4.

The next inning, senior Bobby Doyon (Keene, N.H.) and Bergstrom each contributed RBI singles to give KSC the 6-5 advantage. The game-winning RBI came on a single off of Bergstrom's bat that whacked WNEC pitcher Mark DiTommaso (Hebron, Conn.) right in the leg and scurried away allowing Kyle Morrill (Auburn, N.H.) to score the game's winning run.

Owl's starter Chris Crutcher (Londonderry, N.H.) went the first three and a third innings allowing three earned runs on seven hits. After that, the Owls bull-pen did a nice job of shutting down the WNEC bats and giving the Owl bats time to comeback. "I think the bullpen did a nice job of coming in with tough situations and getting out of them," said Howe. Sophomore transfer Adam Stanclift (Keene, N.H.) threw two and two-thirds innings of one-hit ball before Ed Lacourse (Manchester, N.H.), Eric Perrault (Salem, N.H.) and Corey Vogt (Suffield, Conn.) came in to toss a scoreless inning apiece to lead KSC to victory.

KSC also had a fine day defensively, turning two double plays in the game's first two innings. Also contributing with the glove, Morrill made a diving catch in centerfield in the top of the third to end the Golden Bears rally.

Also going three-for-four for the Owls, senior catcher Tyler DiPrato (Suffield, Conn.) scored a run in the three spot for KSC. Doyon and Bergstrom also collected multiple-hit games with two apiece.

For WNEC, junior first baseman Mike Taylor (Andover, Mass.) was the lone Golden Bear with multiple hits, in his two-for-four performance with two runs scored.

The Owls return to action tomorrow with a Little East Conference doubleheader against Western Conn. State at noon at Owl Athletic Complex. The Golden Bears will head home to face Brandeis University tomorrow for a 1 p.m. start.