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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State softball team opened the 2015 season with a bang as the Owls earned a pair of season-opening wins over Ohio, 7-2, and Dayton, 12-6, on the first day of the KSU Classic on Friday (Feb. 6) at Bailey Park.
 
"Obviously it is a great start for us to get out here and get a couple of wins in the books," said head coach Tory Acheson. "Most importantly to see these kids playing with so much spunk and so much joy in being out there was very exciting. All that has gone on with them, to go out there and just play ball and have fun was a very, very good start to the year."
 
The Owls (2-0) totaled 24 hits on opening day, including six doubles, three triples and a pair of home runs.
 
Senior Natalie Rhodes led KSU with a 5-of-8 effort, including four runs and two triples, while junior Kara Chambers paced KSU with four RBI on the day. Juniors Hillary Kartman and Megan Veringa and freshman Noelle Winkles added three RBI on the day.
 
KSU started quickly against the Bobcats in its first game of the tournament, scoring three runs in the first inning as Chambers registered an RBI single, before Kartman brought her home on a two-run home run, the first of the season for the Owls.
 
Sophomore Taylor Denton continued the scoring in the third with an RBI-single, followed by a Veringa double that pushed the Owls to a 6-1 lead.
 
After the Bobcats earned a run in the sixth, Veringa cemented the victory with her second two-bagger of the game to left field for the 7-2 final.
 
Sophomore Logan Viers earned the win after pitching 2.1 innings of relief work for senior starter Paige Mathews and did not allow a run on four hits.
 
KSU collected 12 hits and no errors, while Ohio totaled seven hits and one error.

The fast start continued against the Flyers as Chambers doubled down the left field line for two runs, before redshirt-sophomore Courtney Sutter homered to right center field to put the Owls on top 4-0 in the first inning.
 
Dayton cut the lead to 4-2 with a pair of scores in the top of the second, before the Owls exploded for eight runs to take a commanding 12-2 lead in the bottom half of the inning. KSU totaled seven hits in the frame, including a three-RBI double to left center field from freshman Noelle Winkles and back-to-back triples from junior Missy Perkowski and Rhodes.
 
Despite the Flyers getting back three runs in the third and one in the fourth, Viers and senior Monica Vickery combined to shutout the visitors in the final three innings for the 12-6 win.
 
Vickery (1-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings of work, while not allowing a hit and striking out two in the effort.
 
KSU tallied 12 hits and two errors in the victory, while Dayton had seven hits and two errors.
 
The Owls continue the KSU Classic on Saturday (Feb. 7) and will face No. 13/14 Tennessee at 3 p.m. ET in Bailey Park.
 
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State softball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsSB or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.