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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State softball team suffered just its fifth loss in the last 16 contests as the Owls fell to crosstown rival Georgia State, 12-4, in a nonconference midweek clash on Wednesday (April 8) afternoon at Bailey Park.
 
"We did not come ready to play today," said interim head coach Tory Acheson. "We had that spring break letdown. Coming off that really big weekend where we played so well, we were just flat and we started off bad and did not get any better."
 
"This coming weekend is a huge weekend for us. Obviously, last weekend's sweep at Stetson has put us in a good place for the Atlantic Sun Conference standings. We definitely need to take care of business, rebound and come back Saturday and Sunday and be ready to play ball. I am confident that we will because we have bounced back every time we have been challenged so far. They are fighters and have a fighter's heart. We just were flat today and a good team took advantage of us."
 
The Panthers (26-15) got off to a fast start, taking a 5-0 lead in the top of the first on a trio of home runs, including a three-run shot to left field to open the scoring, before extending their to 9-0 with a pair of two-run homers in the third frame.
 
The KSU (26-14) bats came alive in the bottom of the third as junior Rachel Dennis led off the inning with a single through the left side, followed by a bunt single from sophomore Taylor Denton. After a groundout from redshirt-sophomore Courtney Sutter, junior Megan Veringa singled to center field to plate both Dennis and Denton and move the Owls within 9-2.
 
The Owls struck again in the bottom of fifth after three-straight singles set up junior Hillary Kartman for an RBI sacrifice fly to center field, but the Panthers answered in the top of the sixth with a two-run homer to push their lead back to 11-3.
 
The team teams then traded runs as GSU went on for the 12-4 road win.
 
The Owls totaled 10 hits and two errors in the setback, while the Panthers tallied 14 hits and one miscue. Denton led the Owls with a 3-of-4 effort with two runs and an RBI, with Sutter, Veringa and Dennis also registering two hits.
 
Senior Monica Vickery (3-2) took the loss after giving up three earned runs on one hit in the first inning as classmate Paige Mathews entered for her and allowed six runs, five earned, on seven hits in two innings of work. Sophomore Logan Viers also saw action and gave up three earned runs on six hits in five innings.
 
Taylor Thorpe (14-3) earned the win after giving up four earned runs on 10 hits in a complete game effort.
 
The Owls next head north for a three-game conference series at Northern Kentucky this weekend in Highland Heights, Ky., starting with a doubleheader on Saturday (April 11), before wrapping the series with a single game on Sunday (April 12). First pitch for both days is set for 12 p.m. ET at the Frank Ignatius Grein Softball 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.