By: by Scott Lipsky
Box Score
Phyliss Rafter Memorial results
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - The Kennesaw State Owls softball team jumped out to an early lead against Tennessee Tech on Sunday, but struggled defensively and dropped a 9-1 decision in their final game of the Phyliss Rafter Memorial at Twin Creeks Softball Complex in Woodstock, Ga.
The Owls (4-3) lost their third straight game of the tournament after two big wins to start the weekend. They allowed the Golden Eagles (2-3) to have two big innings, giving up five runs in the third inning and four runs in the fifth, due in large part to the four errors that they committed. The game ended after five innings, as the Owls trailed by eight runs at that point.
It seemed like Scott Whitlock’s club was going break out of their offensive funk from Saturday, when they had just six hits over two games, when they recorded three straight hits with two outs in the bottom of the first inning, culminated by redshirt sophomore Jessica Cross’ RBI single to give themselves a 1-0 lead. Freshman Karlie Gillam would then walk to load the bases, giving the Owls a chance to put some distance between themselves and TTU in the early going, but they settled for just one run.
Freshman right-hander Abbey Meixel made her third start of the weekend, and lasted through two outs in the fifth inning before being replaced by April Harper. Meixel gave up eight runs, though only four of them were earned, to fall to 2-2 on the season.
Tennessee Tech tied the game in the top of the third inning with an RBI double by Brittany Spalding. They took the lead for good when first baseman Whitney Cummings laid a sacrifice bunt down the third base line, scoring the runner on third and giving the Golden Eagles a 2-1 advantage that they would not relinquish. They scored three more runs in the third inning, a frame in which the Owls committed three errors.
Still down just 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth, KSU had a chance to close the gap, as junior Klair Wells led things off with a triple and was joined on base by Hannah Graham, who walked with two outs. TTU pitcher Holly Thomas, however, was able to work her way out of the jam, and the Owls once again came up empty. Thomas struck out six and allowed just four hits in her second win of the tournament.
“We found out that we have to make ourselves a good softball team. We're not there yet,” Whitlock said. “We have a lot of potential, but until we do it, potential is all that it is. I was very pleased with the effort of some of our players, and with others I was a little concerned with their level of effort. We'll get to work and make it better.”
The Owls return to Bailey Park on the KSU campus when they take on Troy in a doubleheader on Tuesday that begins at 2 p.m.
