By: by Scott Lipsky
ASU Box Score | MTSU Box Score
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - The runs came early and often for the Owls on Friday, as Scott Whitlock’s softball squad scored in all ten innings of play on their first day of the Phyliss Rafter Memorial at Twin Creeks Softball Complex in Woodstock, Ga. They defeated Alabama State, 11-0 in game one, and Middle Tennessee State, 11-1, in game two. Both games ended after five innings due to NCAA softball’s eight-run mercy rule.
Kennesaw State (4-0) wasted no time getting on the board, as their first two batters of the first game, freshmen Hannah Graham and Ashley Burkett, hit doubles, with Burkett’s two-bagger driving home Graham. Burkett’s double would be just the beginning for the rookie first baseman, as she ended the game 3-for-6 and led the team with six RBIs.
After scoring just one run in the first inning, the Owls steadily widened the gap between themselves and Alabama State (2-2), plating two runs apiece in the second, third, and fourth innings, before putting the game well out of reach with a four-run fifth inning. The final frame was highlighted by a three-run home run to left center field by Burkett, the first round-tripper of her college career.
Senior catcher Jenna Closner added a home run of her own in the third inning, a solo shot down the left field line that was her second in as many games.
Redshirt sophomore Jessica Cross made it easy for the Owls to build a big lead, taking the mound for KSU’s second straight game and pitching four shutout innings, allowing just two hits and striking out seven, to move to 2-0 on the season. April Harper pitched a scoreless fifth inning to seal the victory.
Things were no different for the Owls in the second game, jumping on Middle Tennessee State (0-2) for one run in the first inning, followed by two runs apiece in the second and third innings before putting the Blue Raiders away with six runs in the fourth.
Freshman Karlie Gillam provided a big chunk of the offense in the second game, going 3-for-3 with four RBIs, hitting her first collegiate home run in the third inning. Overall, she was one of five Owls to have at least multi-hit game on the afternoon.
Sharon Swanson also hit her first home run as a college ball player, hitting a three-run shot to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning that made the game 11-1.
“It felt good to get that first home run out the way. The pitch was a good one and I knew that I had a chance to hit it hard,” said the freshman Swanson, who hails from Canton, Ga. “As soon as it came off the bat I felt like it had a great chance to go out.”
On the mound, freshman Abbey Meixel picked up right where she left off last weekend. The freshman right-hander, who was a teammate of Swanson’s at Cherokee High School in Canton, won her second straight start to begin her collegiate career, pitching five innings and giving up just one unearned run in her second complete game.
Whitlock was very pleased with the way his players performed on Friday, and is looking forward to seeing the same type of effort from his players every game.
“I thought we were very balanced today, all the way up and down the lineup. It was great to give ourselves a cushion early and score runs right away,” said Whitlock. “We were able to focus on building a lead and then executed everything very well. It’s also great that our pitching allowed us to keep the leads that we built today.”
Day two of the Phyliss Rafter Memorial begins at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, with KSU taking on Southern Illinois at 1 p.m. and Ball State at 3:30 p.m. You can see the full schedule and updated scores for the Phyliss Rafter Memorial all weekend by clicking here.
