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KENNESAW, Ga. – Courtney Sutter clubbed a first inning home run and Logan Viers and Morgan Sikes combined on a seven-hit shutout to lead Kennesaw State to a 1-0 victory in the first of two games against Bradley during Day 2 action of the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament Saturday (Feb. 20) at Bailey Park.
 
In the nightcap, the Owls (6-1) were held in check by Braves right-hander Julie Kestas (1-4) as they fell for the first time this season, coming out on the short end of a 6-1 score.
 
"It was two really hard fought games. It was really good softball," head coach Tory Acheson said. "That first game was classic fastpitch softball, a 1-0 pitchers' duel. Courtney got the big hit with the home run in the first inning and our pitchers and defense really looked good.
 
"In the second game, we really made some good defensive plays but we just did not get the timely hits," Acheson added. "But we'll bounce back tomorrow (Sunday). Fortunately, we get to come back and play another game right away tomorrow and see if we can't get back on track."  
 
Sutter provided the game's only offense in the opener as she sent the first pitch she saw over the right field wall for her third home run of the season. Viers (3-0) and Morgan Sikes made the run stand up.
 
In her longest outing of the season, Viers allowed four hits and struck out five, and worked out of a runner on third, no-out jam in the fifth inning. After the leadoff batter reached third base to open the inning, Viers recorded a big strikeout, received a nice defensive play on a ground ball from third baseman Kara Chambers to get the second out, and escaped the jam by inducing a fly out to end the inning.
 
Sikes came on in the sixth to record a perfect inning before working out of her own jam in the seventh to secure the win and record her second save of the year.
 
"One of the things early in the year is we have to pick some spots to see if they can work out of a jam, if they can get out of trouble, if they can make that big pitch and Logan really rose up," Acheson said. "Morgan did in the seventh inning. She basically got out of two different jams, so that to me was really indicative of how those two have pitched so far.
 
"We're going to give up some hits, they're going to have some base runners, but if we can control the damage and make some pitches and play to our defense, I think we're going to be in every game," Acheson added.
 
In the nightcap, the Owls fell behind 2-0 two batters into the game as Bradley's Kendall Duffy hit a two-run home run to give the Braves (2-6) and 2-0 lead.
 
Kennesaw State threatened in the bottom half of the first inning as it put two runners on base, but was unable to produce the big hit. The Owls cut the deficit in half in the second inning as Noelle Winkles produced a two-out double to score a run.
 
That, however, was all the scoring Kennesaw State could generate against Kestas, who pitched 5 1/3 innings and limited the Owls to four hits, and a run despite walking seven.
 
Kennesaw State concludes tournament play on Sunday when it hosts Morehead State at 3 p.m. at Bailey Park.
 
NOTES
* The Owls 6-1 start is their best since 2013 when they began the year 7-0.
* Courtney Sutter's home run in the first game against Bradley marked the fifth time in the first six games that Kennesaw State has homered. The Owls did not hit a home run in the nightcap for only the second time this year.
* With hits in both games, Courtney Sutter extended her season-opening hitting streak to seven games.
* Sutter also tied the career home run total of teammate Megan Veringa of 16, and three shy of moving in the program's career Top 10 list. 

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