By: by Scott Lipsky
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State Owls softball team wrapped up their rain-suspended game from Friday against the USC Upstate Spartans on Sunday afternoon, falling, 6-4, in eight innings. The loss puts a cap on the Owls 3-1 weekend in conference play.
The Owls (26-20, 8-6 Atlantic Sun Conference) and Spartans (37-11, 9-7 A-Sun) were tied at 4 with one out in the top of the eighth inning with Lauren Quevedo on second base after doubling to right center field when play was called for the night due to an oncoming storm that hammered the Atlanta Metropolitan area throughout Friday evening. The Owls and Spartans both swept their doubleheaders on Saturday, the Owls taking a pair against East Tennessee while Upstate won both at Mercer. The Owls were victorious over Upstate in the first game on Friday, 3-2, in nine innings.
Facing Jessica Cross, who tossed a no-hitter on Saturday against the Bucs and earned the win in all three of the Owls victories this weekend, the Spartans quickly took care of business, as Ashley Torbert roped a double to left center field that scored Quevedo for what would be the game-winning run. The Spartans would add one more in the inning thanks to a wild pitch and an error. Spartans pitcher Morgan Childers would set down the Owls in order in the bottom of the eighth to seal the win.
The Owls led in the contest, 4-2, jumping ahead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Bianca Durant hit a bases-clearing, bases loaded double with two outs. Upstate would counter with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning off of Owls pitcher Abbey Meixel.
Ashlee Burkett provided the Owls other run in the contest, hitting her fourth home run of the season in the third inning, a high-flying shot down the left field line on Friday, part of a 2-for-4 effort for in the game.
Sunday’s action wraps up the Owls 2011 home schedule at Bailey Park. They have six A-Sun games remaining on their slate, all on the road. They begin the home stretch to the regular season on Thursday, when visit Lipscomb for a doubleheader on Thursday at 6 p.m. EDT before taking on Belmont for two games on Friday beginning at 2 p.m. EDT.
