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MONTGOMERY, Ala. – A seventh-inning rally by Kennesaw State came up a hit short as the Owls fell 4-3 to Alabama State Wednesday at Barbara Williams Stadium in Montgomery, Ala.
Kennesaw State (27-17) plated a run and had the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position with two outs in the seventh, but Alabama State pitcher Bailey Patt retired Caitlin Fowler on a foul out to the third baseman to preserve the win for the Hornets (10-28).
The Hornets' righ-hander was able to work out of jams throughout the game as the Owls collected nine hits and put runners on base in five of seven innings, but the big hit proved elusive against Pratt (5-9).
Kennesaw State did jump on the board first, however, scoring a run in the third on a one-out single to left-center field by Angie Dascoli.
The Hornets (10-28) answered back with three runs in the bottom half of the inning on a two-out three-run home run by Makayla Webster that stayed just inside the left field foul pole against Owls starter Monica Vickery (2-3).
Kennesaw State got one of those runs back in the fourth inning when Jensen Hackett and Natalie Rhodes produced back-to-back one out singles. Hackett eventually came around to score on a double down the left field line by Stephanie Phillips, cutting the deficit to 3-2.
Alabama State picked up what proved to be the winning run in the fifth inning on a one-out single by Meagan Dixon that scored Brehanna Rodrigues, who opened the frame with a bunt single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tamara Williams.
The Owls took advantage of a one-out error in the seventh inning to score its final run. Phillips reached on an infield error, advanced to second when Kaylee Williams was hit by a pitch, and scored on a two-out double left field by Alexis Collis.
Kara Chambers led Kennesaw State with a pair of hits, while Phillips, Dascoli and Collis produced RBI hits.
In six innings of work, Vickery was charged with six hits, four runs, walked two and struck out four.
Kennesaw State returns to Atlantic Sun Conference play on Saturday when it welcomes Jacksonville for a three-game series at Bailey Park. The two teams will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. (ET) before concluding the series with a single game on Sunday at 1 p.m. (ET).
Kennesaw State is celebrating 30 years of intercollegiate athletics during the 2012-13 academic year.
