By: KSU Sports Information
Box Scores: UT-Martin Elon
Saturday: Live Stats
WOODSTOCK, Ga. – The Kennesaw State Owls softball team split a pair of games on Friday during the first day of the Buzz Classic, hosted by Georgia Tech at Twin Creeks Softball Complex. The Owls topped the Tennessee-Martin Skyhawks, 2-1, before falling to the Elon Phoenix, 5-0.
Both games for the Owls (9-6) were largely decided by a single big inning, first to their benefit and finally, to their detriment. They trailed Tennessee-Martin (9-8) , 1-0 heading into the bottom half of the sixth inning, having stranded five runners in the game to that point. Thanks to the strong pitching of Amanda Henderson, who would allow just an unearned in the bottom of the fifth, it would take just a pair of mighty swings of the bat to put the Owls back in the driver’s seat.
First it was Sharon Swanson who stepped up in the top of the sixth, launching the first pitch she saw against Kenzi Tate over the trees beyond the left field wall with one out to tie things up at 1, for her sixth home run of the season. The very next batter was Bianca Durant, who worked the count to 2-2 before unloading on Tate, sending her shot into the trees in centerfield and providing Henderson with all of the run support she would need. The home run was the first of the year for Durant, and part of a, 3-for-3, performance in the first game.
Coming into the day fourth in the Atlantic Sun Conference with a 1.30 ERA, Henderson looked every bit the ace on Friday, fanning just batters but only giving up three hits. She walked two batters, both in the third inning when she also allowed an infield single to load up the bases with two outs. With the sacks full, she would induce a slow chopper between shortstop and third base that Jamie Saunders, making her first start as an Owl at third base, was able to run down and make a sharp throw to first to retire the side.
The one run Henderson allowed came in the fifth inning, when Tate singled through the left side and her pinch runner, Kris Lackey, advanced to second base on a wild pitch. She would score with two outs on a Leah Taylor double, briefly giving the Skyhawks a, 1-0, advantage.
The Black and Gold would struggle to generate any offense in the second game, mustering just four hits, while falling behind early. Elon (9-2) would score four runs in the top of the third inning, loading up the bases thanks to a pair of singles and an error, then scoring a single run during each of the next four at-bats, courtesy of two hits, another error, and a walk with the bases loaded, all before recording an out. Jessica Cross, who started the game in the pitcher’s circle, was replaced by freshman Monica Vickery after allowing three runs in the third.
Vickery would be a bright spot for the Owls against the Phoenix, posting a five-inning effort in what was easily the most substantial of her four appearances with the Black and Gold to this point. She allowed only an inherited runner in the third inning to score, and then shut down Elon until they tacked on an additional run in the top of the seventh. She gave up just one hit while striking out five.
The offense, for their part, stranded runners in each of the first two innings and was largely silent after that. Their best opportunity to put runs on the board came in the sixth inning, when Jensen Hackett and Cross reached base via an error and being hit by a pitch, respectively. They would be left on base, however, as Erin O’Shea tossed six innings of shutout ball before her sister, Caitlin, O’Shea, came in to handle the seventh and hand the Owls their fifth loss in six games.
Lindsay Vollmer was the lone Owl to have multi-hits against the Phoenix, going 2-for-3 with a pair of singles. Freshman Kaylee Williams was the one member of the Black and Gold to have a hit in each game.
The game against Elon marked the 1200
th fastpitch game that Owls head coach Scott Whitlock has coached at Kennesaw State.
Whitlock’s squad continues the Buzz Classic at 11 a.m. on Saturday when they take on Western Kentucky. They turn right around to face Alabama State at 1 p.m.
