March 6, 2007
Box Score
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - The Kennesaw State softball team dropped a doubleheader at Tennessee Tech on Tuesday afternoon. The Owls fell 2-1 in extra innings in game one and posted a seventh inning comeback in game two, but it wasn't enough in a 7-3 loss.
Game one was a pitcher's duel as the Owls Brittany Matthews and TTU's Heather Kendrick went head-to-head. The Golden Eagles (15-8) got on the scoreboard first as Katie Sutherland homered in the second to give Tech an early 1-0 lead.
KSU (18-8) responded in the fourth when Jamie KeKaualua led off the inning by reaching an error and Keri McKee followed with a double. With two on and no outs, Jennifer Nolan stepped to the plate and drilled a single to center, scoring Kekaualua and tying the game at 1-1.
After a scoreless fifth and sixth, the Owls looked to strike again in the top of the seventh. After a Megan Gant strikeout, April Keasler singled up the middle and Kelsey Kulk doubled to put two runners in scoring position. But when Keasler was out at home after a Sarah Hesterman fielder's choice and Catherine Rodriguez was caught stealing, KSU was once again thwarted in its attempt to bring home the winning run.
The Owls got out of the bottom of the seventh with no harm and the game went into extra innings, putting the international tie-breaker into play. Nolan was placed on second base for Kennesaw State but the Owls were unable to get a run across.
In the bottom of the eighth, Ashley Potts was placed on second for Tech and Bonnie Bynum was intentionally walked. Kristyn Castonzo singled to advance the runners to second and third. With the bases loaded Janet Kearns struk out Sutherland and Kristina Hortert but could not retire Beth Boden, whose single brought home the winning run.
In the second game, KSU went up 1-0 in the top of the third when Hollie Huffman doubled to left center scoring Norie Glazebrook.
The Golden Eagles got on the board in the next inning in a big way by tagging A-Sun Pitcher of the Week, Missy Hobdy, for three hits and four earned runs .
Bynum led off the frame with a walk, before Sutherland singled to center field scoring Bynum. Hortert then singled down the right line and Boden doubled to left center scoring Sutherland and advancing Hortert. Amanda Glover singled sending in both Hortert and Boden to put an end to Hobdy's day and give TTU a 4-1 lead.
Tech added another run in the fifth as Stephanie Fischer scored on a single by Castonzo. Then two more crossed the plate for the Golden Eagles in the sixth as Dobbs doubled scoring Glover and Potts singled sending in Dobbs. After seven, Tech was ahead 7-1.
McKee hit a leadoff home run in the seventh in KSU's effort to stay alive and then Nolan scored on a single by Hesterman. But it was not enough as the Golden Eagles came away with the 7-3 victory over.
The Owls will continue their road trip when they travel to the Panther Spring Classic hosted by Birmingham Southern. KSU will open play against South Alabama on Friday at 11:00 a.m.
