By: By Libby Knight
BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF) FORT MYERS, Fla. – With friends and family looking on in her home state of Florida, senior
Carly Van Auken blasted a home run in the top of the seventh inning to send the Kennesaw State softball team to an important 2-1 win over Florida Gulf Coast on a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon (April 6) at the FGCU Softball Complex.
With the series finale victory the Owls improve to 19-21 and 8-9 in Atlantic Sun Conference play, while the Eagles drop to 22-19-1 and 6-9 in league action.
"I went in there feeling like I wanted to hit one out, so it felt good to actually do it," said Van Auken, a Largo, Fla., native. "This win helps us big time with confidence and momentum because we have some really big conference games coming up in the next few weeks."
It was a pitcher's duel to open Sunday's series finale as neither team could plate a run in the first five and a half innings of play. KSU threatened in the top of the sixth with a leadoff triple from junior
Natalie Rhodes, but would not be able to bring the Canton, Ga., native home.
The Eagles broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the frame on a RBI single through the left side with a runner on third for the 1-0 lead.
Down to their last out in the top of the seventh, redshirt-freshman
Courtney Sutter extended the inning by reaching base on an Eagle fielding error. Van Auken then delivered her third career long ball, her second at KSU, to right field before senior pitcher
Amanda Henderson shut down FGCU in the bottom of the seventh to give the Owls the 2-1 win.
Henderson (15-8) allowed only one run on six hits and struck out six in a complete game effort.
KSU totaled six hits in the contest, with sophomore
Missy Perkowski leading the way with a pair of hits.
Amanda Josie (7-7) took the loss for the Eagles, who got two hits each from Jessica Barnes and Alexis Ross.
The Owls next return home after two weeks away from Bailey Park for the final game in a three-game series with rival Mercer on Wednesday, April 9. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET and can be seen on ASun.TV.
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State softball news follow the team on Twitter
@KSUOwlNation and @
KSUOwlsSB or by liking Kennesaw State University on
Facebook.
Season tickets are on sale for the entire home slate at $39, with single game tickets available for $6 for adults and $4 for youth (ages 3-12). To order season tickets contact the KSU Athletics Ticket Office at 770-423-OWLS (6957) or click HERE.
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