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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State softball team dropped a 3-0 decision to crosstown rival Georgia Tech in front of a capacity crowd at Lexi's Day at Bailey Park 2015 on a beautiful Wednesday (April 1) night.
 
"We just want to congratulate Georgia Tech," said interim head coach Tory Acheson. "They played a great game tonight. Unfortunately we did not play great, but the kids fought for the entire game and we gave it our best shot. Tonight we were off and seemed just a half step slow. It was like we were stuck in the mud there for a few innings and they took advantage of it. You have to give credit where credit is due and now we have to bounce back. We will jump in the bus tomorrow to go down to Stetson and hopefully play better and see if we can't take care of business down there in a really big Atlantic Sun Conference series."
 
Prior to the game, the Owls hosted the eighth-annual Lexi's Day at Bailey Park, an event to raise funds and awareness for the Alexis Kaiser Foundation, which was established to help Alexi Kaiser and other children with exceptional needs. The foundation is named in honor of Lexi Kaiser, a 10-year old girl who lives with Cerebral Palsy and a special member of the Owl softball family.
 
The Kennesaw State department of athletics, along with the Owl softball program and the Alexis Kaiser Foundation raised over $3,400 on the night with 100 percent of the proceeds from the pre-game dinner provided by the Marietta Fish Market as well as donations from those in attendance going to the Foundation.
 
"We are also very proud to be involved in the Lexi's Day event today and hearing that we raised over $3,400 is a great accomplishment. We'd like to thank everybody for helping to make that possible. It is a great tradition and a great event and we are proud to be a part of it."
 
GT (13-23) grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the opening frame after the Jackets took advantage of a hit-by-pitch with an RBI single through the right side.
 
The visitors added a pair of insurance runs on three-straight hits in the top of the fourth for a 3-0 lead.
 
KSU (23-13) registered just one hit in the contest as junior Missy Perkowski tallied a double to left field in the bottom of the fourth, while the Jackets totaled six hits and an error on the night.
 
Senior Paige Mathews (9-4) took the loss after giving up three earned runs on four hits, while striking out five in four innings. Junior Morgan Sikes entered in relief in the fifth and did not allow a run on only two hits in three innings of work.
 
Kylie Kleinschmidt (5-15) struck out 14 in a one-hit, complete game effort for the Jackets.
 
The Owls next head south for a three-game conference series at Stetson, starting with a doubleheader on Friday (April 3) at 12 p.m. ET, before wrapping the series with a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday (April 4) at Patricia Wilson 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.