NIU BOX SCORE (XML) | NIU BOX SCORE (PDF) | UE BOX SCORE (XML) | UE BOX SCORE (PDF)
 
TROY, Ala. – The Kennesaw State softball team split its twin bill on the final day of the Trojan Invitational as the Owl dropped a 2-1 decision to Northern Illinois, before rebounding with a 7-4 win over Evansville on Saturday (Feb. 21) at the Troy Softball Complex and SportsPlex.
 
"It was great to end the weekend on a winning note," said interim head coach Tory Acheson. "We knew we would learn a lot with this first road trip and we have many things to work on this week. Monica Vickery and Logan Viers both pitched well in the win over Evansville and Morgan Sikes threw a tough luck gem against Northern Illinois. I am very proud of the effort and I know this will help is as we move ahead."
 
Unlike the low scoring affair of the Owls' first game of the day, KSU (6-4) came out ready to go against the Aces (3-8) and took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. With sophomore Taylor Denton and junior Kara Chambers on first and second, respectively, junior Megan Veringa registered an RBI double to centerfield to plate Denton, before redshirt-sophomore Courtney Sutter scored Chambers on a ground out to the short stop.
 
After Evansville evened the game at 2-2 on two unearned runs in the bottom of the first, KSU responded to take a 4-2 lead in the second as the Owls strung together back-to-back RBI hits on a single up the middle from sophomore Lauren Bennett and a double to left center field from senior Natalie Rhodes.
 
A two-run home run to left center field from the Aces tied up the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the third, but the Owls answered with a run in the fifth frame as junior Hillary Kartman singled up the middle to score Chambers from third to take a 5-4 advantage.
 
Veringa added to the Owls' lead in the top of the sixth with a two-run single up the middle, before sophomore Logan Viers entered in the bottom of the inning and shut down the Aces to earn her second save of the season and give KSU the 7-4 win.
 
The Owls recorded 11 hits and two errors against the Aces, with Veringa going 2-for-4 with three RBI to pace the Owls. Rhodes, Denton and Bennett added two hits each in the victory.
 
The Aces totaled five runs and two errors in the loss.
 
Senior Monica Vickery (2-1) earned the win with two scoreless innings of relief work and did not allow a hit while in the circle. Viers also held the Aces without a hit in the final two innings to get the save, while senior starter Paige Mathews went three innings, giving up three hits and two earned runs and striking out four.
 
Amanda Blankenship (2-6) took the loss after allowing four runs and nine hits in five innings of work.
 
It was a scoreless game against Northern Illinois (3-5) until the bottom of the fourth inning when the Huskies took a 1-0 win on a RBI fielder's choice to score the game's first run.
 
The Owls responded in the next inning as freshman Noelle Winkles singled to third base, before classmate Devan Brown reached on an NIU throwing error to advance Winkles to third. Rhodes then delivered a RBI single to second base, scoring Winkles and evening the score at 1-1.
 
Heading into the bottom of the seventh with the game still tied, the Huskies were down to their last out with runners at first and second when Caitlyn Warren hit a walk-off single up the middle to give NIU the 2-1 victory.
 
KSU posted five hits and an error, with Rhodes leading the way with a 2-for-3 effort and an RBI, while NIU totaled six hits and two errors on the day.
 
Junior Morgan Sikes (2-2) went the entire way for the Owls, giving up six hits and only one earned run in 6.2 innings of work in the loss.
 
Jessica Sturm (3-2) earned the win in a complete game effort after allowing five hits and one earned run.
 
The Owls next take the short trip to Atlanta to take on rival Georgia State in a midweek contest on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m. ET, before traveling to Macon, Ga., for the Black & Orange Challenge, hosted by Mercer on Feb. 27-March 1.
 
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.