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MACON, Ga. – The Kennesaw State softball team opened the first day of the Black & Orange Challenge with a bang as the Owls powered their way to a pair of wins over Buffalo, 9-4, and Evansville, 6-0, on Friday (Feb. 27) at Sikes Field.
 
"I am very proud of the way the kids played today," said interim head coach Tory Acheson. "We have learned some valuable lessons already this season and it showed. We came out in attack mode offensively and kept the pressure on most of the day. Paige Mathews started off strong in the circle and Monica Vickery came in and really picked us up in the middle of game one. Morgan Sikes and assistant coach Cat Hosfield Fritts were really clicking in game two and Morgan pitched a gem. She kept Evansville pounding it in the ground and our defense was great behind her. Missy Perkowski had a great game defensively at third and the entire defense rose to the occasion. Now we move on to tomorrow and another challenge."
 
The Owls, who combined to outscore its opponents 15-4 on Friday, improve to 8-4 on the season and have won three-straight contests.
 
KSU started off strong against the Bulls, taking a quick 5-0 lead in the first inning as the Owls capitalized on two Bulls (3-8) errors. Junior Megan Veringa got the scoring started on a two-run double to left field, before coming home on a home run from junior Hillary Kartman. Junior Missy Perkowski capped the frame with a RBI-single up the middle to plate redshirt-sophomore Courtney Sutter.
 
Junior Kara Chambers added to the KSU advantage with an RBI-double to left center in the top of the fourth inning, but a two-run home run from Buffalo in the bottom of the inning cut the lead to 6-2.
 
The Owls answered with two more runs in the fifth as junior Rachel Dennis registered her first career home run, sending a long ball to left center to push the score to 8-2.
 
Dennis added a single in the top of the seventh as Sutter scored on the play following a two-base error from the Bulls.
 
Buffalo would get two runs on two hits and a KSU error in the bottom of the seventh, but the Owl pitching staff would get the final three outs for the 9-4 victory.
 
KSU collected 10 hits and had one error, while Buffalo posted eight hits and six errors in the day's first game. Dennis led the Owls with a 2-of-4 effort with two RBI and a run, while Sutter went 2-of-2 with three runs on the day.
 
Senior starter Paige Mathews gave up two earned runs and five hits in 3.1 innings of work and was relieved by senior Monica Vickery (3-1), who earned the win after allowing just one earned run and one hit in three innings. Sophomore Logan Viers entered in the seventh and gave up two hits and one earned run in 0.2 inning of work.
 
Bobbi Langlois (0-4) took the loss after giving up seven earned runs and 10 hits in a complete game effort.
 
The hot bats continued in game two as Chambers delivered a three-run home run to center field, her third of the season, to put KSU up 4-0 in the third frame after sophomore Taylor Denton scored on a passed ball in the opening inning to give the Owls the early lead.
 
KSU added to its edge with a RBI double to left center field from sophomore Lauren Bennett, before Sutter sealed the 6-0 victory with a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth to plate Chambers.
 
The Owls totaled seven hits against the Aces, with Bennett and Dennis each collecting two hits in the win. Chambers added a 1-of-2 effort with three RBI and two runs scored. UE picked up five hits and were hampered by two errors.
 
Junior Morgan Sikes (3-2) held the Aces scoreless in a complete game performance, while allowing only five hits and striking out two in one of her best outings to date as an Owl.
 
Amanda Blankenship (1-5) dropped the contest after giving up four earned runs and six hits in four innings of action.
 
The Owls continue the Black & Orange Challenge on Saturday (Feb. 28) and will be playing the same two teams, starting with a 10 a.m. game against Evansville, before taking on Buffalo at 12:15 p.m.
 
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