Feb. 24, 2008
KSU-N.C. State Box Score
KSU-College of Charleston Box Score
Mt. PLEASANT, S.C. - The Kennesaw State softball team wrapped up play at the College of Charleston Cougar Classic on Sunday by going 1-1, recording a 4-3 win over N.C. State before falling in the finale, 2-0, to the host Cougars.
The Owls (10-4) close the weekend after going 2-2 with a split against Towson and Liberty yesterday.
After the Black and Gold went down in order to start the game, N.C. State (6-8) got to starter Brittany Matthews in the bottom of the first, putting up two runs on Alyssa Allbritten's homerun. Shanna Smith struck out to start the frame, but Ashley Davis reached on a single to the left side. Allbritten took advantage of a high floater from Matthews and deposited it over the centerfield wall to put the Wolfpack ahead, 2-0.
Kennesaw State cut the lead in half in the fourth inning when Jessica Cross hit her fifth homer of the season to right center. The Owls would tie the game just one inning later when Cross singled through the left side, scoring pinch runner Erica Joseph and knotted the game at 2-2.
Matthews (7-1), meanwhile, settled down and after the rocky first inning, pitched six scoreless innings. Neither team could plate the winning run before the international tiebreaker was put into effect in the eighth.
Jacki Warren was placed on second to start the frame and advanced to third on a groundout by Amanda Malcom. After Laura Stallings popped to second, Jenna Closner plated the game-winning run, as her single through the left side scored Warren. KSU added an insurance run when Kelsey Kulk scored on a fielding error.
The Wolpack would rally in the bottom half, scoring one run on Alyssa Ishibashi's single, but Matthews got Lauren Peters to pop up and Blair Harkey to line out to left to earn her seventh win of the season.
The Owls' lefty leads the A-Sun with 83 strikeouts after fanning seven N.C. State batters.
Game two featured a pitcher's duel as Cross moved to the circle and was matched pitch for pitch by CofC's Terri Mesko, who picked up her first win of the season.
After Cross had a no hitter through five, the Cougars (4-13) tallied their first hit of the game, when Christal Kotchman singled to short. After stealing second, Kotchman reached third when a Cross offering got away and then scored when Jenna Closner committed a throwing error.
The hosts added their final run a batter later when Shannon Howard singled down the leftfield line, scoring Kristi Woodall.
Mesko (1-7) struck out 14 Owls' batters while giving up just a single to Cross and a pair hits to Kulk.
KSU will be back in action on Wednesday afternoon with a doubleheader at Jacksonville State. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
