GAME ONE BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF) | GAME TWO BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF) | PHOTO GALLERY
 
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State softball team pushed its Atlantic Sun Conference win streak to 10 games as KSU earned its fifth-straight conference series win with a doubleheader sweep of Florida Gulf Coast to celebrate Senior Day on Saturday (April 18) at Bailey Park. The Owls first picked up a dramatic 11-9 nine-inning, come-from behind victory, before closing out the day with a 5-3 win in game two.
 
"This was another amazing day for our team," said interim head coach Tory Acheson. "Nothing surprises me anymore after the game one comeback. To get the four runs in the seventh to tie it and then to hang on and win it in extra innings like that makes it a very satisfying win. Taking care of business and getting the sweep in game two just shows how much grit and determination this team has We did not play our best, but we did what we needed to do to have a chance to win and then the kids stepped up and made plays and made pitches and got hits when we needed them."
 
With the sweep, the Owls improve to 31-14 on the season and 12-5 in A-Sun play, while the Eagles fall to 22-25 and 5-12 in league standings.
 
Prior to the day's first game, the Owls honor seniors Natalie Rhodes and Paige Mathews for their contributions to the Kennesaw State softball program.
 
"Natalie and Paige are amazing people and amazing kids," said Acheson. "From the day that I took over, they have completely and totally bought in to everything we have asked them to do. The leadership is outstanding and obviously, their performance has been exceptional. Natalie is having an All-Atlantic Sun year and
Paige has really done a nice job of accepting kind of an unusual role for a senior pitcher to be part of a staff and part of contributing along with three other pitchers. She has done a great of accepting that and a great job with it, so I am very proud of both of them. I love them both and I am really happy to have them this team. Hopefully we can keep playing games for quite a while."
 
Rhodes made most of her senior day as she paced the Owls with a .600 batting average between the two games, collecting six hits and four runs, while redshirt-sophomore Courtney Sutter went 5-of-9 with two doubles, four RBI and three runs.
 
It was a back-and-forth affair as the two teams traded the lead over the first three four innings of game one.
 
Heading into the top of the fifth, the Eagles grabbed a 7-3 advantage, highlighted by a three-run homer to left field. Each team then scored a run over the next two innings as the Owls headed into the bottom of the seventh trailing 9-5.  
 
Junior Hillary Kartman got the Owls going with her team-leading 12th home run of the season, before classmate Rachel Dennis followed that up with a double to right field. KSU then put together four-straight two-out singles from junior Missy Perkowski, Rhodes, sophomore Taylor Denton and Sutter to knot the score at 9-9.
 
A two-run walk-off home run to deep center field from junior Megan Veringa then ended the dramatics in the bottom of the ninth frame and sent the home team to an 11-9 win.
 
The two teams combined for 34 hits, with the Owls totaling a season-high 18 and the Eagles posting 16 hits. Both teams also committed two errors in the contest. Rhodes led the Owls with a 4-of-6 performance plus three runs, while Sutter added three hits, two RBI and a run.
 
Senior Paige Mathews (12-4) earned the victory after allowing seven runs, six earned, on 12 hits and striking out three in eight innings.
 
Shelby Morgan (6-8) took the loss, giving up five runs, four earned, on 10 hits in six innings of work.
 
The Owls jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead to open game two as Sutter singled in a pair of runs, before scoring on a wild pitch.
 
FGCU then evened up the score at 3-3 with a two-run homer in the second, followed by an RBI triple in the third.
 
With the game tied at 3-3 in the fifth, the Owls loaded the bases before an FGCU error scored Sutter from third for the go-ahead run. KSU then added an insurance run with a based-loaded walk from Perkowski.
 
Sophomore starting pitcher Logan Viers and the KSU defense then did the rest, keeping the Eagles off the scoreboard to earn the 5-3 win.
 
Both teams tallied eight hits and an error in game two, with Sutter pacing the squad with a 2-of-3 effort plus two RBI and two runs. Rhodes and Denton each also added two hits and a run.
 
Viers (8-3) allowed just three earned runs on eight hits in a complete game effort to earn the victory.
 
Ashley Dobson (10-7) dropped game two after giving up five runs, three earned on eight hits in six innings.
 
The Owls travel to Knoxville, Tenn., for their final nonconference midweek game of the season against No. 12/13 Tennessee on Tuesday (April 21) in Sherri Parker Lee Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6 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.