BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF) | HIGHLIGHTS | PHOTO GALLERY
 
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Despite a late-inning comeback, the fifth-seeded Kennesaw State softball team suffered a 5-3 setback to No. 6 Florida Gulf Coast to bow out of the 2014 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship on Thursday (May 8) at Draper Diamond.
 
With the defeat, the Owls close out the 2014 season with a 24-29 overall record and a 13-12 mark in conference action in Wes Holly, Jr.'s first season at the helm as well as saying goodbye to seniors Amanda Henderson, Stephanie Phillips, Angie Dascoli, Carly Van Auken, Bianca Durant and Sara Sikes.
 
FGCU moves to 32-25-1 on the season and advances to a Friday matchup against either No. 1 USC Upstate or No. 2 Lipscomb.
 
The Eagles opened the scoring in game five of the Championship with a solo home run to left field in the top of the first, before pushing their lead to 5-0 with four runs in the second. FGCU took advantage of four hits and two Owl miscues as only one run was earned for the Eagles.
 
KSU settled down as senior pitcher Amanda Henderson entered the game in relief of junior starter Paige Mathews in the second and kept the Eagles off the scoreboard for the final five innings of the contest.
 
The Owls offense came alive in the bottom of the sixth frame as junior Natalie Rhodes registered her fourth triple of the season to deep center field and was brought home on an infield single from freshman Taylor Denton. An Eagle error then scored Denton from first, followed by an RBI infield single from sophomore Megan Veringa to plate sophomore pinch runner Alexis Collis, cutting the lead to two.
 
KSU would twice get the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning, but was unable to push a run across as the Eagles grabbed the 5-3 win.
 
Mathews (5-15) took the loss and went an inning and two-thirds, giving up five runs on four hits, with only two of those runs earned. Henderson did not allow a run in five scoreless innings of work, giving up only three hits while striking seven in her final appearance as an Owl. The Covington, Ga., native finishes her KSU career with 688 strikeouts.

The Owls posted seven hits in the contest, with Denton and Veringa leading the way with two hits and an RBI each. Rhodes added a pair of hits and a run for KSU.
 
Amanda Josie (12-9) earned the win for FGCU, who got a 3-of-3 effort plus an RBI from Alexis Ross.
 
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.
 
 

Related Videos

Now Playing:

• Play Video