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COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Kennesaw State received solid pitching from Morgan Sikes and Logan Viers, and strong performances at the plate from Taylor Denton and Kara Chambers to sweep its final two games of the Tennessee Tech Round Robin tournament on Sunday at Tech Softball Field in Cookeville, Tenn.
 
Behind the hitting of Chambers and the pitching of Sikes, the Owls (15-7) edged East Tennessee State, 7-6, before riding the right am of Viers to blank the host Golden Eagles, 6-0.
 
"I'm very pleased with the way the kids played today and bounced back from a tough loss to end the day yesterday," head coach Tory Acheson said. "We were aggressive at the plate and on the bases, and Monica and Logan really pitched well and were backed up by some really good defense.
 
"We have a number of positives to take away from this weekend as we have two big non-conference games against in-state rivals, and prepare to open the Atlantic Sun Conference play next weekend," Acheson added.
 
Chambers tripled, had four RBIs and scored three runs, while Sikes (6-2), who relieved Viers in the second inning, allowed four hits, three runs (two earned), walked one and struck out three in the opener against East Tennessee State. Viers returned in the seventh to record the final two outs and register her first save of the season.
 
Chambers' final RBI broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the sixth inning and she scored what proved to be the decisive run later in the frame.
 
Viers (7-1) started against Tennessee Tech (6-15) and pitched five scoreless innings, allowing three hits and striking out two. Monica Vickery came in to close out the game, working two hitless innings while walking one.
 
The Owls staked Viers to an early lead, scoring a run in the first inning without the benefit of a hit as they took advantage of a leadoff hit batsman, stolen base, sacrifice and error for a 1-0 lead.
 
KSU added single runs in the third and fourth innings before breaking the game open with three runs in the fifth inning. Denton, Missy Perkowski, Megan Veringa and Emily Bishop all had run-scoring hits. Veringa highlighted the three-run fifth with a double high off the right field wall.
 
The Owls also completed a weekend where they displayed their speed, stealing 12 bases in 14 attempts during the two games, and finished the four games with 25 thefts in 28 attempts. Chambers was 8-for-8 and Denton was 6-for-6 over the two days.
 
Denton was 3-for-7 with two runs scored and 4-for-4 in stolen bases, while Chambers went 2-for-6 with two runs scored, with four RBIs and three stolen bases.
 
Kennesaw State is next in action on Tuesday when it hosts Georgia State at Bailey Field beginning at 5 p.m.
 
NOTES

• Junior Logan Viers started three of the four games over the weekend and posted a 2-0 record and 1.66 ERA and a save. In 12 2/3 innings, she allowed eight hits, three runs, walked one and struck out nine. In two outings against Tennessee Tech, Viers went 2-0 with 0.00 ERA, pitching 10.0 innings, allowing six hits and striking out eight.
• With eight stolen bases over the weekend, senior Kara Chambers moved into third place on Kennesaw State's all-time career stolen base list with 46. She is three shy of moving into a tie with Tracey Britt (1991-94) for second place with 49.
• Junior Taylor Denton is also moving up KSU's all-time stolen base list. After recording six stolen bases over the weekend, she is tied for fourth with Shannon McDonough (1994-98) with 44 career swipes.
• Following a shutout of Tennessee Tech, Kennesaw State improved to 12-2 when allowing two or fewer runs to its two opponents. The Owls also improved to 8-0 when scoring in the first inning and 13-3 when scoring first.
• Senior Missy Perkowski has reached base in a team-high eight consecutive games, while Chambers leads the team with a five-game hitting streak.
• Junior Logan Viers and senior Morgan Sikes each recorded their 100th career strikeout over the weekend. Viers has 105 career strikeouts, while Sikes has 100.

 
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.
 
 
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