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TROY, Ala. – The Kennesaw State softball opened play on the 2014 season, splitting its first two games of the Troy Subway Invitational as the Owls posted the first win of the season in a 14-12 offensive battle against Middle Tennessee, before falling to No. 6 Alabama, 6-0, on Friday, Feb. 7 at the Troy Softball Complex.
 
In the opening game of the tournament, the Owls (1-1) got off to a rough start as the Blue Raiders jumped out to an early lead with six runs on five hits in the first inning.
 
Sophomore Courtney Sutter put KSU on the score board in the bottom half of the inning as she doubled to center field to score junior Natalie Rhodes from second.
 
MT extended its lead to 8-1 with runs in the top of the second and fourth innings, before the Owls bats exploded in the fourth inning for six runs to cut the lead to 8-7. Back-to-back singles from senior Carly Van Auken and freshman Taylor Denton set the stage for a Rhodes fielder's choice to plate Van Auken and Denton, before hits from seniors Sara Sikes and Angie Dascoli and sophomore Caitlin Fowler and an MT error plated six runs for the Owls.
 
The Blue Raiders again pushed ahead with three runs in the top of the fifth for an 11-8 lead, but the Owls rallied with four runs in the bottom of the inning to even the contest at 11-11. Following a single from Rhodes to score sophomore Kara Chambers, Sutter posted the first Owl home run of the season to plate Rhodes and Sikes.
 
Trailing 12-11 in the bottom of the sixth after giving up the go-ahead run in the top of the inning, Sutter again delivered for the Owls with three-RBI double to score Sikes, Chambers and Denton for a 14-12 lead heading into the final inning.
 
Despite giving up a single and a wild pitch in the seventh, freshman pitcher Logan Viers shut down the MT offense for her first career win.
 
KSU registered 16 hits and two errors, while the Blue Radiers notched 11 hits and four errors. Sutter led the way for the Owls with three hits and seven RBI, while Chambers and Dascoli each tallied three hits for KSU.
 
Viers (1-0) went two innings for her first-career win, while junior Paige Mathews made her KSU debut in 4.1 innings, totaling six strikeouts, while giving up five runs and five hits.
 
Caitlin McClure took the loss for the Blue Raiders.
 
It was a pitcher's duel in the Owls' second outing of the tournament against No. 6 Alabama, with neither team able to score a run until UA took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth on a Haylie McCleney home run to center field.
 
The Crimson Tide added to its lead with a one-run homer and a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth and went on for the 6-0 win.
 
The Owls notched two hits in the game, with Chambers and Dascoli each registering one, while UA posted eight hits in the win.
 
Senior Amanda Henderson (0-1) went 5.1 innings for the Owls and struck out five, but gave up all eight hits and six runs.
 
Leslie Jury (1-0) earned the win for the Crimson Tide.
 
KSU continues the Troy Subway Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 8, as the Owls face Memphis at 10:30 a.m. ET, followed by a game against tournament host Troy at 1 p.m.
 
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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