By: by Scott Lipsky
Box Score
ATHENS, Ga. – The Kennesaw State Owls softball team went toe-to-toe with the No. 8 ranked Georgia Bulldogs on Wednesday night, but at the end it was early struggles that cost them, as they fell, 8-3, at UGA Softball Stadium on the campus of the University of Georgia.
Two players had multiple hits on the night for the Owls (15-13), as freshman Sharon Swanson and senior Kelsey Kulk both went 2-for-3, with Kulk providing all of the Owls’ run production on the night with three RBIs.
After the Bulldogs (25-6) jumped out to a first inning, 3-0 lead against Kennesaw State starter Jessica Cross, Kulk did what she could to help keep pace with the SEC power when she hit a one-out home run, her first of two on the night and first of the season, to make it 3-1. Kulk would strike again in the top of the fourth, with the Owls trailing, 7-1, after Georgia put up three more runs in the second inning and one more in the third, when she followed up fellow senior Jenna Closner’s double with her second round tripper of the evening to make it 7-3.
Sophomore Amanda Burns would replace Cross in the pitcher’s circle to start the bottom of the fourth, and she was extremely effective against the Bulldogs, retiring the first six batters she faced and keeping the game at 7-3 heading into the sixth inning. UGA left fielder Megan Wiggins, who led her team offensively with a 3-for-4 evening at the plate, led off the inning with a home run against Burns to make the score 8-3.
“Georgia is a very good team. It us a few innings to get settled in, but once we did, I thought we played them very tough,” Owls head coach Scott Whitlock said. “Amanda Burns pitched great for us tonight. She did everything she could to give us opportunities to get back in the game, so I’m very pleased with that.”
Cross gave up seven runs, just four of them earned, and struck out two over three innings to take the loss and move to 9-4 on the season.
The Owls return home on Saturday when they continue their Atlantic Sun Conference schedule with a doubleheader against in-state rival Mercer. First pitch at Bailey Park is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
