TOLEDO BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF) | VILLANOVA BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)
 
CLEARWATER, Fla. – Despite taking a 10-5 setback to Toledo in the day's first game, the Kennesaw State softball team rebounded for a 7-0 blanking of Villanova on day two of the USF-Under Armour Invitational on Saturday, March 1 at the EC Moore Softball Complex.
 
The Owls (8-7) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first as senior Sara Sikes notched a sacrifice fly to score junior Natalie Rhodes from third.
 
The lead would not last long as Toledo put up two runs each in the first and second innings to take a 4-1 lead through two innings.
 
KSU then responded with three runs in the top of the fourth to even the score at 4-4 as senior Bianca Durant posted an RBI-double before a Rocket error and an RBI-sacrifice fly from sophomore Kara Chambers plated Durant and freshman Taylor Denton.
 
In the bottom of the fourth the Rockets then took advantage of an Owl error to take a one-run lead at 5-4. Two innings later, UT broke the game open with five runs on three hits, including a three-RBI triple, and two KSU errors for a 10-4 margin heading into the top of the seventh.
 
Rhodes led off the inning with a double before an RBI-single from senior Angie Dascoli scored the junior, but the Owls could get anything else going as UT went on for the 10-5 win.
 
KSU registered 10 hits and four errors in the loss, while the Rockets posted 12 hits and two errors. Rhodes and Dascoli led the Owls with a 3-for-4 effort from each of them.
 
Freshman Logan Viers (1-2) took the loss in relief of junior starting pitcher Paige Mathews.
 
The Owls rebounded in game two as senior pitcher Amanda Henderson dominated in the circle and was on the verge of a perfect game before a one-out double down the left field line in the top of the seventh broke up the no-hitter. Henderson totaled 11 strikeouts, while only allowing one hit and one base runner in a complete game effort to improve to 7-3 on the season.
 
KSU opened its scoring against Villanova in the third inning as the Owls took advantage of two Wildcat errors and an illegal pitch to build a 3-0 lead.
 
The scoring continued in the fourth inning as KSU plated four runs on four hits and a Wildcat error for a 7-0 margin. Following an inning-opening walk to Durant, sophomore Courtney Sutter delivered an RBI-double to center field. Sophomore Missy Perkowski then singled to center field before an illegal pitch scored Sutter from third.
 
A single from sophomore Caitlin Fowler advanced Perkowski to third and a batter later she scored as sophomore Alexis Collis hit into a double play. The Owls added a seventh run when Rhodes singled to left field and came around the bases on an illegal pitch and an error.
 
KSU put up seven hits in the win, led by two runs and two hits from Rhodes. Perkowski added a pair of the hits for the Owls.
 
Kaity Sitzman took the loss for the Wildcats, who committed four errors in the contest.
 
KSU wraps up the USF-Under Armour Invitational on Sunday, March 2 as the Owls take on No. 14 Stanford at 9 a.m. ET.

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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