EASTERN MICHIGAN BOXSCORE: XML | PDF | BUTLER BOXSCORE: XML | PDF | PHOTO GALLERY
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State softball team continued its winning ways with a pair of victories on the second day of the Georgia Tech-Kennesaw State Invitational on Saturday at Bailey Park.
The Owls blasted Eastern Michigan (1-2), 7-0, in the first game of the day, before downing Butler (0-3), 6-2 to improve to 4-0 in the early season.
Kennesaw State tallied a pair of runs in the first two innings on singles from senior designated player
Sharon Swanson (Canton, Ga./Cherokee HS), sophomore second baseman
Kaylee Williams (Kennesaw, Ga./Kennesaw Mountain HS) and junior
Sara Sikes (Douglasville, Ga./Georgia), and a triple from freshman first baseman
Caitlin Fowler (Flowery Branch, Ga./Flowery Branch HS).
The Owls added a run in the fifth before breaking the score wide open with a four-run sixth inning that was highlighted by doubles from freshman third baseman
Missy Perkowski (Woodstock, Ga./Sequoyah HS), Sikes and Swanson.
Kennesaw State outhit the Eagles 11-6, with a 2-for-3 performance and two RBI from Swanson. Sikes and Perkowski added two hits each for the Owls, while senior outfielder
Jensen Hackett (Tunnel Hill, Ga./Ringgold HS) add two RBI to help secure the win.
Senior pitcher
Abbey Mixon (Canton, Ga./Cherokee HS) registered 10 strikeouts in picking up her second win of the season. Lauren Wells (0-2) suffered the loss for Eastern Michigan.
Abby Davidson and Courtney Nicholson each notched a pair of hits for the Eagles.
Kennesaw State continued its offensive prowess into the second of the game against Butler as the Owls registered 13 hits to the Bulldogs’ six.
For the second consecutive day, a Kennesaw State newcomer blasted a home run as freshman catcher
Courtney Sutter (Marietta, Ga./Harrison HS) drilled a two-run shot to left center to put the Owls up 2-0 in the second inning.
Kennesaw State added to its lead with a run on doubles by Swanson and Williams in the top of the third frame.
Down 3-0, Butler used a two-run bottom of the third to to move within a run at 3-2. The Bulldogs tallied a pair of singles and three stolen bases to push two scores across the plate.
Two innings later, Kennesaw State ended all doubt about the outcome with a three-run sixth inning. The Owls notched five hits in the frame, including a double to left field from Swanson, while taking advantage of two Butler errors.
Junior
Amanda Henderson (Covington, Ga./Eastside HS) continued her strong play in the circle to improve to 2-0, tossing a complete-game and totaling seven strikeouts, while surrendering six hits. Kristin Gutierrez (0-2) took the defeat for the Bulldogs.
For the Owls, Swanson went 3-for-4, while Sikes and Sutter both added a pair of RBI. Williams, junior shortstop
Carly Van Auken (Largo,Fla./State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota) and freshman first baseman
Megan Veringa (Roswell, Ga./Centennial HS) each recorded two hits.
Kennesaw State closes out the Georgia Tech-Kennesaw State Invitational on Sunday (Feb. 10) with a rematch against Eastern Michigan at Noon (ET) at Bailey Park.
Keep up with Owls softball this year by following KSU on Twitter at @
KSUOwlNation and @
KSUOwlsSoftball, or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on
Facebook.
Kennesaw State is celebrating 30 years of intercollegiate athletics during the 2012-13 academic year.
