Feb. 24, 2008
KSU-Towson Box Score
KSU-Liberty Box Score
Mt. Pleasant, S.C. - After being rained out on Day One, the Kennesaw State softball team finally began play at the College of Charleston Cougar Classic on Saturday, going 1-1 on the day. The Owls downed Towson, 10-0, in five innings before falling to Liberty in the nightcap, 7-0.
The Owls (9-3) got things going early and often against Towson (1-1), posting four runs in the first inning and six more in the fourth. KSU's first four runs were the result of a pair of homers, as Jessica Cross and Kelsey Kulk each hit a two-run shot.
After Jamie KeKaualua walked early in the first frame, Cross delivered her fourth homer of the year when she hit a no-doubter far behind the left field wall to put KSU ahead, 2-0. Jacki Warren followed with a double to right center, before Kulk hit her first long ball of the season to cap the four-run frame.
Meanwhile, Brittany Matthews was her typical self, completely unhittable, as the Brooks, Ga., native recorded her fourth career no-hitter. She struck out nine Towson batters and allowed just two walks as she faced two more than the minimum batters.
The fourth inning started with the Owls loading the bases after a Jenna Closner single was sandwiched between a pair of walks. Lyndsay McCurry tallied her team leading 15th hit of the season with a single to the shortstop, plating Laura Stallings to put the Owls ahead, 5-0. Cross followed, scoring two more with a single through the infield.
KSU loaded the bases again and after a Kulk walk brought home another run, Stallings plated the tenth and final run with a sacrifice fly.
Game two was not as kind to KSU as the bats went cold against Liberty (1-2).
The Black and Gold managed just one hit and struck out 12 times as Flames' pitcher Dana Wheeler (1-0) had KSU's number all game long.
Meanwhile, Liberty had no problem finding its offense as the Flames scored three runs in the top of the first inning. After Cassie Hendrix began the game with a walk, Amber DePasquale reached base on a fielder's choice, followed by Shannon McKain's base hit to right center.
Ashley Williams kept things rolling for Liberty with an RBI double down the right-field line, plating DePasquale for the Flames' first run. Beth Bennett capped off the three-run frame with a two-run homer off Owls starter, Angela Lopez (2-2), to left, giving Liberty to a 3-0 lead.
The next three innings became a pitcher's duel, with neither recording a hit until Kelsey Kulk led off the KSU half of the fifth inning. But three straight strikeouts by Amanda Malcom, Laura Stallings and Jenna Closner shut-down any chance of an Owls' rally.
Liberty broke the stalemate by posting four runs in the sixth. Beth Bennett's single up the middle plated two baserunners, while Keeley McMillon doubled to right center to put the finishing touches on the seven-run win.
Lopez gave up four hits and four earned runs in five innings of work to take the loss.
The Owls will close out play in the Cougar Classic on Sunday as they face N.C. State at 4:00 and CofC at 6:00.
