Game 1 Box Score (PDF) | Game 1 Box Score (XML) | Game 2 Box Score (PDF) | Game 2 Box Score (XML)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Kennesaw State softball team showed resiliency during its Atlantic Sun Conference doubleheader opener Saturday (Mar. 19) at Pruitt Stadium in Jacksonville.
 
After suffering a disappointing 1-0, 11-inning loss to the Dolphins (16-15, 1-1) in the first game, the Owls (16-10, 1-1) rebounded in the nightcap to register a 5-4 victory.
 
"It was great to see the kids bounce back and scratch out a win in the second game today," head coach Tory Acheson said. "The first game was a heartbreaker. To say I'm proud of the fight they showed in game two is an understatement."
 
In the opener, Kennesaw State had runners on second and third with no outs but into some tough luck and was unable to push across the go-ahead run. In the bottom half of the frame, Jacksonville got a runner to third base and pushed across the winning run on a two-out infield single.
 
Senior third baseman Kara Chambers went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and scored a run to lead the Owls in game two. Kennesaw State also received clutch RBI hits from Taylor Denton, Hillary Kartman and Chandler Griffin.
 
The Owls' big inning came in the third when they scored four times as Chambers contributed a two-run double, Denton singled through the right side to plate a run and Kartman collected a two-out single that gave Kennesaw State a 4-0 lead.
 
The Owls scored what proved to be the decisive run in the fourth inning when Rachel Dennis and Griffin hit back-to-back doubles to produce a run that extended a one-run lead to 5-3.
 
Jacksonville produced a rally of its own in the bottom of the seventh as it plated an unearned run to once again make it a one-run game. However, Logan Viers, who worked a season-high 6 1/3 innings in the opener, pitched through the error to nail the win and earn her second save of the season.
 
"Kara, Rachel, Hillary and Chandler all had big hits, and three-headed pitching combo of Monica (Vickery), Morgan (Sikes) and Logan fought to get the win," Acheson said. "Now we need to rest up and bounce back on Sunday to try to win the series."
 
Sikes (7-3) earned the game-two victory after allowing two hits and striking out three in 3 1/3 innings.
 
The three-game series concludes on Sunday (Mar. 20) with the two teams getting underway at 1 p.m. (ET) in a game that will be broadcast on ESPN3.com.
 
NOTES
* The Owls entered the weekend ranked fifth in the nation stolen bases with 3.04 swipes per game. They continued that pace again on Saturday as they totaled six stolen bases in the two games. In 26 games this season, Kennesaw State has stolen 79 bases in 91 attempts. Marshall leads the nation with 3.70 steals per game.
 
* With one stolen base on Saturday, senior Kara Chambers moved to within to two steals of tying Tracey Britt (1991-94) for second place at 49. Chambers, who is the team-leader in stolen bases with 17 thefts in 18 attempts, has 47 career steals.
 
* Junior Taylor Denton is also moving up KSU's all-time stolen base list. After recording two stolen bases on Saturday, she is in sole possession of fourth place with 46 career swipes.
 
* The Owls improved to 14-3 when scoring first.
 
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