UT Martin Box Score (PDF) | UT Martin Box Score (XML) | Alabama A&M Box Score (PDF) | Alabama A&M Box Score (XML) | Tournament Central

KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State softball team provided its fans with plenty of thrills and chills during the second day of the Dr. Bobbie Bailey Memorial Tournament Saturday at Bailey Park.
 
After rallying late twice to post a 7-6 extra-inning victory over UT Martin (8-4) in their first game, the Owls (9-1) nearly let an 8-2 lead in the seventh inning disappear before starting pitcher Logan Viers re-entered the game with the tying run in scoring position and recorded the final two outs to preserve an 8-7 victory over Alabama A&M (0-10).
 
"It was definitely an exciting day of softball at Bailey Park," head coach Tory Acheson said. "Unfortunately, it was both sides of the spectrum for us today. The first game was an amazing, exciting comeback and the second game was amazing, exciting hanging on by your fingernails, trying to finish it off.
 
"The errors that we made, combined with the walks really created some problems for us in that second game, and we've got to clean that up tomorrow (Sunday)," Acheson added. "But, the kids battled and they found a way to get some wins."
 
Viers (4-0) provided yeoman's duty for Kennesaw State as she started both games, pitching 7 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits, six runs, four earned, walking two and striking out 13. After starting against Alabama A&M and allowing two runs, four hits and striking out six in three innings, the Owls' right-hander was called back into service to get the final two outs, and did so by registering a strikeout and fly out to end the game.
 
"Logan did a great a job of coming in and putting out the fire there in the last inning," Acheson said. "We're trying to keep it all in perspective. It's early in the year but we need to start making some progress in some of these things are coming back and haunting us a little bit from time to time."
 
In the day's first game against UT Martin, Kennesaw State trailed 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh and was down to its final out before Kara Chambers drilled a double down the left field line to drive home Lauren Bennett with the tying run and force extra innings.
 
After the Skyhawks took a 6-5 lead in the top of the sixth, the Owls rallied once again as Hillary Kartman and Megan Veringa produced back-to-back run-scoring singles to provide a thrilling 7-6 victory.
 
Monica Vickery (2-1) earned the win in relief as she pitched three innings, allowed one hit, an unearned run, walked two and struck out four.
 
The day proved to be an uncharacteristic one for the Owls defensively as they entered the weekend leading the Atlantic Sun Conference in defense while committing just five errors in their first eight games. After making two errors against UT Martin, Kennesaw State was charged with four errors against Alabama A&M, including two in the seventh inning that led to five unearned runs.
 
Courtney Sutter, Missy Perkowski and Chambers led Kennesaw State offensively as they collected three hits apiece, with Perkowski scoring six runs, and Sutter scoring four times, producing a double and hitting her team-leading fifth home run of the season. Veringa also had a productive day at the plate as she totaled four RBIs.
 
The Bobbie Bailey Memorial Tournament concludes on Sunday (Feb. 28) with Kennesaw State closing out the day when it hosts Alabama A&M at 3 p.m.
 
NOTES
* The 9-1 start is the best by Kennesaw State since 2013 when the Owls began the year 10-1 en route to a 34-20 season.
* With their two wins on Saturday, the Owls have five one-run victories, including three in a row.
* With hits in both games on Saturday, junior Courtney Sutter has hit safely in all 10 games this season, establishing a career-high. Dating back to last season, Sutter has a 14-game hitting streak. Her previous long hitting streak was nine games in 2015.
* After hitting her fifth home run of the season in game one against UT Martin, Sutter increased her career total to 17 and is two shy of moving into 10th place on the program's all-time career list.  
* Freshman Kira Czyrklis, who started both games, went 2-for-4, with two RBIs, both coming against Alabama A&M and establishing single-game career-high for runs batted in. 

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.