By: KSU Sports Information
Box Scores: Game 1 Game 2
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State Owls split a doubleheader on Saturday with the Georgia State Panthers at Bailey Park, dropping the first game, 3-1, before winning the second game, 3-1, behind a career-high 16 strikeouts from Amanda Henderson.
The Owls (15-12) had their issues offensively throughout the afternoon, notching just 10 hits across the two contests, but were able to secure the split of the twin bill with a three-run fourth inning in the second game, taking advantage of two Georgia State (20-7) errors. Brittany Moore would drive in the first run after hitting a ground ball to short with one out that would score Kierra Koln, who was pinch running for Jessica Cross, from third base. Koln had advanced to second base two batters earlier on a Panthers throwing error, while Moore advanced to second on her ground ball after a throw home to get Koln went to the backstop. With the 1-0 lead in hand, Lindsay Vollmer would hit a base hit up the middle that would score Moore and Bianca Durant, giving the Owls a, 3-0, advantage.
“Both teams played extremely hard for 14 innings today, and that’s the way softball should be played,” Owls head coach Scott Whitlock said. “We beat a heck of a good ball club in the second game, and in games like these, it’s usually the team that takes advantage of a weak moment from the opposition that comes out on top, and that’s what we did in the second game. I think we actually hit a little better in the opener, a lot of the balls we hit were just right at people.”
Henderson was dominant for stretches on the way to moving to 6-4 on the season. Her 16 strikeout performance marked her fifth double-digit strikeout effort of 2012, and was part of her team-leading seventh complete game of the season. While she allowed base runners in five out of seven innings, the Panthers were only able to push across a single run against the sophomore in the seventh inning, with Henderson striking out the last two batters of the game with one out at the tying runs on base. She also allowed the first two Georgia State batters to reach in the top of the fifth, but retired the next three Panthers to step to the plate to get out of the jam unscathed.
“Getting herself out of some tough spots today, that’s something I can’t coach, I can’t teach,” Whitlock commented. “Amanda just hunkered down and did what she needed to do to keep us out in front. She’s continuing to improve in big spots in each start.”
It was Georgia State that used a three-run inning to drive themselves to victory. With the Owls leading, 1-0, heading into the top of the fourth, Jessica Cross would allow her first home run of the season to Jessica Clifton, and then allowed three straight hits that would drive in two more runs before she was replaced in the circle by Abbey Mixon with nobody out. Mixon would strike out a pair of Panthers and would allow a base hit, but Kaylee Williams would take a relay throw from Natalie Rhodes in centerfield and throw out Callie Alford at home to keep it was a two-run game.
The Owls had their opportunities to pull even with the visitors late in the opener, stranding runners at the corners in the sixth inning before loading the bases in the seventh after a pair of walks and a Panther error. In the end, though, it was a Kaylee Williams infield single in the second inning that would represent all of the Owls run production in the opener.
Moore went 2-for-3 in the opener, while Cross and Vollmer each went 2-for-3 in the second game, the latter four hits the only ones the Owls would record in their victory. Vollmer was the loan Owl to have hits in both games.
The win for the Owls snapped a three-game home skid against the Panthers dating back to last season.
Kennesaw State takes the field again on Thursday evening, when they take on the Samford Bulldogs at Bailey Park at 6 p.m. There will be free food for the first 200 students to arrive.
Notes:
-The Owls are now 15-9 all-time against Georgia State, and 8-6 vs. the Panthers in games at Bailey Park. They are also 8-6 against them since becoming a Division I program in 2006.
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Amanda Henderson's 16 strikeout performance on Saturday was two short of the program record of 18 strikeouts in a game, achieved by
Brittany Matthews (2005-08), who punched out 18 Georgetown Hoyas on Feb. 8, 2008.
-Kennesaw State is now a perfect 12-0 when leading after six innings, and is 0-12 when trailing after six innings. Their other three games were run-ruled, five-inning wins.
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Jessica Cross was 0-for-4 in the Owls first game on Saturday, snapping an eight-game hitting streak and 11-game streak of reaching base at least once, both Owls season-highs.
-Cross made her 97th career appearance in the pitcher's circle on Saturday, moving her into a tie for fifth with
Brenda Farrell (1995-98) on the program's all-time list. Only Matthews (105) has pitched in more games for the Owls at the Division I level.
