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TROY, Ala. – The Kennesaw State softball team opened the 2015 Trojan Invitational with a 4-2 setback to American Athletic Conference foe Connecticut on a cold and windy Friday (Feb. 20) afternoon at the Troy Softball Complex.
 
"We came out a little flat today and UConn took advantage," said interim head coach Tory Acheson. "Give them credit for playing a cleaner game. We had enough hits, but did not put them together. Seven of our eight base runners got on after two outs, which made it difficult to put a rally together. We will bounce back tomorrow."
 
The Huskies (1-0) opened the scoring with a two-run home run to center field from Alyson Ambler in the first inning, but the Owls (5-3) got a run back an inning later as sophomore Lauren Bennett continued her hot streak with an RBI single up the middle to score freshman Noelle Winkles and cut the deficit to 2-1.
 
UConn added to its lead with two unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth as an error and a walk gave the Huskies runners at first and third, before the pair pulled out a double steal for a score. After two more base-on-balls, a passed ball gave UConn its fourth run of the contest.
 
Trailing 4-1 heading into the top of the seventh, Winkles started off the inning with an inside-the-park homerun to left field to bring the Owls within 4-2. Following back-to-back flyouts to left field, senior Natalie Rhodes continued the KSU rally with her fifth triple of the season, but it would not be enough as sophomore Taylor Denton grounded out to short stop for the third out.
 
The Owls collected seven hits in the game, but committed two errors, while the Huskies totaled five hits in the win.
 
Seven Owls recorded hits, with Rhodes and sophomore Kara Chambers each posting a triple.  
 
Senior Paige Mathews (2-1) took her first loss of the season after giving up two runs and two hits in a third of an inning of work. Senior Monica Vickery had three innings of relief work, allowing just one hit and no earned runs.
 
Lauren Duggan (1-0) earned the win for UConn and gave up two runs and seven hits in a complete game effort.
 
The Owls will wrap up the Trojan Invitational with a twin bill on Saturday (Feb. 20) as KSU faces Northern Illinois at 11 a.m., before finishing the tournament against Evansville at 3 p.m.
 
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