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

TROY, Ala. – Kennesaw State fell twice to Troy in a non-conference doubleheader Tuesday at the Troy Softball Complex in Troy, Ala.
 
The Owls (20-13) dropped the opener, 6-2, before falling 8-2 in the nightcap.
 
Kennesaw State fell victim to a big inning in each game and was unable to completely take advantage of its scoring opportunities.
 
"This was a tough trip, but I'm proud of the kids. We made some great plays defensively but continued to leave way too many runners on base," head coach Tory Acheson said. "Monica (Vickery) and Jenna (Kniss) both gave us quality innings tonight and with Logan (Viers) out and we really needed them to be workhorses.
 
"We also got innings and at-bats for several different players," Acheson added. "It's time to get back to work and get ready for North Florida this weekend."
 
In the opener, Troy starter Ashley Rainey (12-8) scattered 10 hits and was able to come up with the big pitch when she needed it, allowing seven hits and two runs in 4 1/3 innings.
 
The Owls were held to single runs in the fourth and fifth innings as Kara Chambers delivered a run-scoring triple in the fourth and Lauren Bennett scored in the fifth on an infield error after opening the frame with a double.
 
Bennett, Chambers and Hannah Thomason each had two hits apiece in the opener.
 
The Owls ran into more good pitching in the nightcap as Trojans starter Claire Graves (5-1) held Kennesaw State hitless for the first 5 1/3 innings before Noelle Winkles broke up the no-hit bid with a perfectly executed bunt single that helped set up their first run.
 
Winkles' bunt advanced to third base pinch runner Katie Cannington, who scored on a sacrifice fly by Taylor Denton.  The Owls second run came in the seventh on a two-out single by Megan Veringa.
 
Cannington made two outstanding catches in left as she saved two runs with a diving catch in the third inning and followed it up with another diving catch in foul territory in the fourth. Right fielder Hillary Kartman also made a nice diving catch on a sinking liner in the second game.
 
Kennesaw State returns to A-Sun Conference play on Saturday when it hosts North Florida in a doubleheader at Bailey Park beginning at 1 p.m.
 
NOTES
* Kennesaw State, which has been one of the top base stealing teams in the country and ranked fourth nationally with 2.93 thefts per game, were held with a stolen base in both games. It marked just the third and fourth time this season that Owls have not had a stolen base. It also snapped a streak of eight consecutive in which Kennesaw State has had at least one stolen base.  
* The Owls have already established a single-season school record for stolen bases. Through 33 games, Kennesaw State has totaled 96 stolen bases in 110 attempts. The previous was record was 74 accomplished in 90 attempts in 2015.
* Senior Kara Chambers and junior Taylor Denton have led the running game while establishing single-season career-highs. Chambers is 22-for-24, while Denton is 20-for-21. The duo also ranks second and third, respectively, on Kennesaw State's all-time career charts with 52 and 50, respectively. Jennifer Hunt (2003-06) is KSU's career leader with 60.
* With a hit in Game One, junior Taylor Denton extended her hitting streak to a team and career-high nine games. The streak was snapped in the nightcap as she went 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly.
*Senior first baseman Megan Veringa seventh-inning RBI in Game Two was the 98th of her career and moved her to with two of reaching 100 for her career.

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