GAME ONE BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF) | GAME TWO BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF) | PHOTO GALLERY
 
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Kennesaw State softball team split its Atlantic Sun Conference doubleheader with North Florida on a sunny Saturday (March 21) afternoon at the UNF Softball Complex as the Owls took game one, 5-3, before falling 3-2 in game two.
 
"It was great to get our first A-Sun win in the books," said interim head coach Tory Acheson. "We played two really good games today. We are looking forward to the pivotal third game tomorrow."
 
The Owls move to 18-10 on the year and 1-4 in conference play, while the UNF improves to 21-12 and 3-2 in A-Sun action.
 
The Ospreys jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first of the day's first game on a pair of singles to left field, before an RBI single from sophomore Taylor Denton in the top of the second got the Owls on the board at 2-1.
 
A solo shot from UNF's Kelly Wilson in the third then brought the score to 3-1 in favor of the home team.
 
Trailing by two, the Owls scored four unanswered runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 5-3 lead. Sophomore Lauren Bennett scored senior Natalie Rhodes in the fifth on a two-out RBI double down the left field line, before the bats came alive in the sixth inning.
 
A leadoff triple from junior Megan Veringa, followed by a single from classmate Kara Chambers set up an RBI single to centerfield from redshirt-sophomore Courtney Sutter to even the score at 3-3. KSU then took the lead on RBI singles from Denton and Rhodes.
 
Senior Paige Mathews entered in the seventh and secured her conference-leading third save of the season with three-straight outs, including a pair of swinging strikeouts.
 
KSU recorded 10 hits on the day and committed one error, while UNF totaled eight hits and an error. Denton led the offense with two hits, two RBI and a run, with Rhodes adding two hits, an RBI and a run. Chambers also contributed two hits and two runs in the win.
 
Junior Morgan Sikes (6-5) earned the win with four and two-thirds scoreless innings of relief work, while allowing just two hits.
 
Kayla Goff (10-3) took the loss after giving up five earned runs on eight hits in five innings of action.
 
After the Ospreys took a quick 1-0 lead, the Owls put together a two-run inning in the top of the second on a wild pitch, followed by a Perkowski double to left center to take a 2-1 edge.
 
UNF evened up the game at 2-2 with an RBI single to left field in the third. Both teams were then held scoreless until the seventh inning, when the Ospreys loaded the bases with one out in the frame. Katie Mandigo then hit the game-winning single on a high bouncer over third base to score Kelly Wilson from third.  
 
KSU totaled seven hits in game two, while the Ospreys tallied nine. Denton and Rhodes paced the Owls with two hits each.
 
Sophomore Logan Viers dropped to 2-2 on the season after giving up one earned run on four hits in two and a third innings. Mathews started the contest and allowed two runs on three hits in three innings.
 
Kaylie Wallace (7-5) allowed just two runs on seven hits to get the win in a complete game effort for the Ospreys.
 
The Owls and the Ospreys will meet for the rubber match and series finale on Sunday (March 21) at 12 p.m. ET.
 
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.