By: By Libby Knight
STONY BROOK BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF) | GEORGIA STATE BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State softball team wrapped the Georgia Tech-Kennesaw State Crossover with a pair of impressive wins, first blanking Stony Brook, 4-0, before sophomore
Megan Veringa's grand slam in the top of the seventh inning sent the Owls to a 7-6 come-from-behind victory over regional rival Georgia State on Saturday, Feb. 22 at Bailey Park.
"I am so proud of the kids for staying in the game, staying in the fight and not giving up," said head coach Wes Holly, Jr. on the come-from-behind win over GSU. "They did not quit and I was really proud that they stepped up when they had a big chance, loaded the based and then had a big home run from Megan (Veringa). They strung together a series of hits, which is what I asked them to do and stepped up when the money was on the table. This is the first big step the offense has really taken this year."
The Owls started the day off positively, taking an early 1-0 lead over Stony Brook in the second inning of KSU's first game of the day as freshman
Taylor Denton registered an RBI-single to right field to plate redshirt-senior
Sara Sikes from third base.
After a two-out walk from senior
Angie Dascoli in the bottom of the fifth, sophomore
Courtney Sutter delivered the first Owl triple of the season to push KSU to a 2-0 lead.
KSU put up a pair of insurance runs in the sixth on a RBI-ground out from sophomore
Kara Chambers and an RBI-single to left center from junior
Natalie Rhodes.
Senior
Amanda Henderson (5-2) did the rest from the circle as she picked up her fourth win over the season in a complete game effort. Henderson dominated the Seawolves, allowing only three hits and striking out three in the outing.
Denton had a breakout game for her freshman campaign, posting two RBI, two hits and a run, as seven Owls registered hits in the win.
Allison Cukrov (0-3) took the loss for SBU, giving up seven hits and four runs in five and a third innings.
The Panthers put up the first run of the third and final Crossover contest at Bailey Park in the bottom of the second on a single to center field for the 1-0 advantage, before adding to it with a two-out single to right center in the third.
KSU got on the board just a half inning later as Sikes started things off with a single to right center, before senior
Bianca Durant brought her home on a double to deep right center to move within 2-1.
The Panthers then broke things wide open with four runs in the bottom of the fifth on four-straight two-out hits for the 6-1 lead.
Down five heading into the bottom of the seventh, Denton started off the inning with a single to center field, but GSU looked primed to take the win by quickly securing two outs. Back-to-back RBI-hits from sophomore
Courtney Sutter and Sikes moved KSU to within 6-3 when Durant reached first on a Panther miscue to load the bases for Veringa.
The Roswell, Ga., native then crushed a grand slam to center field, her second home run of the season, to catapult the Owls to a 7-6 lead.
Henderson entered in the bottom of the seventh and after giving up an inning –opening walk, shut down the Panthers for three-straight outs to earn the 7-6 win, her fifth of the season.
Junior
Paige Mathews started the contest and went four and a third innings, giving up two runs and five hits. Sophomore
Morgan Sikes and freshman
Logan Viers also saw action in relief, each giving up a pair of runs.
Sikes and Denton each went 3-for-4, with Sikes plating a pair of runs and an RBI for the Owls. Sutter and Veringa added two hits each in the win.
Kaitlyn Medlam (2-1) went six and two-thirds innings in the loss, giving up 13 hits and three earned runs.
KSU next heads south for the USF-Under Armour Invitational, hosted by South Florida on Friday-Sunday, Feb. 28-March 2.
Keep up with Owls softball by following KSU on Twitter @
KSUOwlNation and @
KSUOwlsSoftball or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on
Facebook.
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