In a battle of division leaders, the Keene Swamp Bats exploded for 23 hits and pounded the Newport Gulls, 20-8, in a New England Collegiate Baseball League contest at Cardines Field before 2,108 fans in Newport, R.I.

Jared Walsh led the barrage with five RBIs for Keene while Grant Kay (four hits), Austin Wheeler (four hits) and Fran Whitten each drove in three runs. Keene built up a 12-0 lead in the third inning and eventually piled up 51 at-bats in the nine inning game.

Keene smacked six homers in the game, getting two from Walsh, who had a two-run homer in the first and second innings. Dylan DelaCruz had a solo homer in the second inning, Kay bashed a three-run homer in the third inning and Cameron O'Brien went yard with a man aboard in the sixth frame. Fran Whitten also had a two-run homer in the game.

Keene, which has won eight of its last 10 games, now owns the league's best record at 23-6. Newport falls to 22-7. Both teams play again tonight at 6:30 p.m. in Keene.