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MACON, Ga. – The Kennesaw State softball team faced the same two opponents as they did on Friday and earned the same results as the Owls took a 10-8 win over Evansville, before finishing the day with a 16-7 victory over Buffalo on day two of the Black & Orange Challenge on Saturday (Feb. 2) at Sikes Field.
 
"We fought like crazy today," said interim head coach Tory Acheson. "I am proud of our team today because these were hard-fought "team" wins. Our offense showed up big in both games with many different players making key contributions. We took advantage of opportunities that were presented and got a bunch of clutch hits. We continue to learn every time out and it was nice to have chances to learn while coming away with two wins. We have a big challenge tomorrow in the game with Mercer. They are very strong and our kids are excited to renew the rivalry."
 
The Owls improve to 10-4 on the season and are riding a five-game winning streak heading into tomorrow's showdown with rival and tournament host Mercer at 2 p.m. ET.

KSU got things started early in its first game of the day against the Aces as junior Hillary Kartman and redshirt-sophomore Courtney Sutter hit back-to-back home runs to open the bottom of the second inning. Three batters later, senior Natalie Rhodes added to the lead with a two-shot shot, her first home run of the season.
 
The offense continued in the third as the Owls plated four runs in two hits and an UE error. Junior Missy Perkowski brought in the first run of the inning on a sacrifice fly to left field, before back-to-back singles from Rhodes and sophomore Taylor Denton pushed the KSU lead to 8-0.
 
Evansville (4-12) closed the gap to 8-5 in the top of the fourth on a pair of homers and a two-RBI single, but KSU responded with a couple of insurance runs in the sixth on an RBI-single from junior Megan Veringa, followed by a sacrifice fly from Kartman to plate Chambers.
 
The Aces looked to rally in the top of the seventh with three runs on an RBI-single and a two-run double, but it would not be enough as KSU went on for the 10-8 win.
 
The Owls collected nine hits and did not commit an error, while the Aces totaled 11 hits, but were hampered by four errors. Rhodes paced KSU with a 2-of-4 performance that included three RBI and two runs.
 
Sophomore Logan Viers (1-0) earned her first win of the season with 3.1 innings of relief work, giving up three earned runs on four hits and striking out three in the outing.
 
Cecilia Dopart (0-1) took the loss after allowing six run, five of them earned, on four hits in two innings of work.
 
Buffalo jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning in the day's second game for the Owls.
 
KSU rallied in the top of the third as Denten sent a bases-loaded triple to right center to knot the score at 3-3, before taking a 5-3 lead on a pair of Bulls miscues on a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded and an error from the UB second baseman.
 
After Buffalo evened the game at 5-5 with two runs in the bottom of the third, the Owls took the lead back for good with a three-run inning in the fourth as  back-to-back singles and a UB error loaded the bases. A second Buffalo miscue scored sophomore Lauren Bennett, before a Veringa reached on a base-on-balls to plate Rhodes. Kartman then grounded out to the short stop, scoring Denton for the 8-5 KSU edge.
 
A two-run home run from the Bulls cut the lead to 8-7 in the bottom of the fourth, but a Chambers RBI double in the fifth pushed the margin back to two runs.
 
KSU then exploded for seven runs in the top of the seventh inning to put the game out of reach as a two-RBI double from Chambers started off the scoring. Kartman then added to the total with a two-run triple to left field, followed by an RBI-double down the right field line from Sutter. Junior Emily Bishop then capped the rally with a two-run homer, her first of the season, to cement the 16-7 victory.
 
The Owls put up 12 hits in the win and committed three errors on the day, while Buffalo posted 10 hits, but totaled seven errors in the loss.
 
Rhodes led KSU with three hits and three runs, with four Owls totaling three or more RBI in the win. Chambers paced the group with four RBI, two hits and a run, while Denton, Kartman and Bishop also notched three RBI.
 
Senior Paige Mathews (3-1) earned the win after allowing just two runs and five hits in four innings of relief work for starting pitcher Sikes.
 
Hayley Barrow (1-3) dropped the game after giving up eight runs, including four earned runs, and five hits in 3.1 innings of work.
 
The Owls will wrap up the Black & Orange Challenge on Sunday (March 1) against the Bears at 2 p.m. ET at Sikes Field.
 
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.