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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State softball team put on an offensive show, while also getting solid pitching performances as KSU swept its final two games in the Owls Invitational on Sunday (March 8) at Bailey Park, earning a 9-4 win over Big 10 foe Indiana, before finishing the day with a 6-4 victory over Eastern Illinois.
 
"I think this was a great weekend for our team," said interim head coach Tory Acheson. "The kids really showed a lot of heart and determination. We played at a very high level and the thing I was most proud of was when throughout the course of these last few games, when the other teams would challenge us, we would answer right back. I think that is a sign of the growth and the development of this team. I think we have really turned a corner, because we have that ability now to fight right back and get back into games. This second game you get down three runs in that first inning, there is a lot of teams that do not come back from that. Obviously it is nice to come back and get it all back right away, but that just shows a lot of determination. I am really proud of these kids."
 
With the win, the Owls improve to 14-6 and have won three-straight contests, while the Hoosiers fall to 5-18 and the Panthers move to 5-11 on the year.
 
Junior Hillary Kartman started things off for the Owls against IU with a two-RBI single to right field, before redshirt-sophomore Courtney Sutter plated Kartman on a hard-hit single to short stop and giving KSU the early 3-0 lead in the first inning.
 
After the Hoosiers got a run back in the top of the second, Kartman went to work again with a two-run shot to right center field in the bottom of the third.
 
KSU added to its lead in the fourth, building a 8-1 edge on a sacrifice fly from senior Natalie Rhodes, followed by a two-run homer from junior Kara Chambers.
 
IU would get three more runs over the next two innings, but it would not be enough as sophomore Taylor Denton added an insurance run on a single to right field in the fifth frame to close out the 9-4 win.
 
The Owls totaled nine hits and two errors against the Hoosiers, who also posted nine hits and three errors in the setback. Kartman was dynamic at the plate with a 2-of-3 performance to go along with two runs and four RBI, while Chambers added two runs, two RBI and a hit in the win.
 
Senior pitcher Paige Mathews (6-2) had another strong effort in the circle, allowing nine hits and four earned runs, while striking out four in seven innings of work.
 
Lora Olson (4-11) gave up eight hits and eight runs, including seven earned runs, in 3.2 innings to take the loss.
 
After falling into a quick 3-0 hole to open their second game of the day against the Panthers, the Owls responded right away as back-to-back hits, followed by a fielder's choice set the stage for a grand slam to left field from junior Megan Veringa and the 4-3 lead for KSU in the bottom of the first.
 
An RBI-double to left center field from freshman Emily Bishop, her first two-bagger of her career, added to the Owls lead, before Chambers belted her second home run of the day to push the score to 6-3 in the fifth frame. It was Chambers fifth long ball of the season, tying her with Kartman for the team lead.
 
A leadoff homer in the top of the sixth for the Panthers closed the gap to 6-4, but Mathew entered in relief of sophomore Logan Viers and secured her first save of the season in an inning and a third of hitless action from the senior.
 
KSU registered eight hits and an error, while EIU tallied 10 hits and did not commit an error in the loss. Veringa led the Owl attack with a 2-of-3 performance, including four RBI and a run, while Chambers continued her strong play with three runs, two hits and an RBI against the Panthers.
 
Viers (2-0) picked up the victory with five and two-thirds innings of relief work for junior starter Mogan Sikes, as she equaled a career-high with three strikeouts, while allowing just five hits and one earned run in the outing.
 
Jessica Wireman (2-7) did not secure an out as she gave up four runs on three runs to take the loss.
 
KSU will have a quick turnaround as its originally-scheduled midweek game on Tuesday against Belmont has been rescheduled to Monday (March 9) at 3 p.m. ET in Bailey Park.
 
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