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

KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State combined the winning formula of solid pitching and clutch hitting to complete a doubleheader sweep of visiting Alabama State Tuesday at Bailey Park. The Owls won the opener 2-0 and came back in the nightcap to post an 8-2 win and provide head coach Tory Acheson with his 850th and 851st career coaching wins.
 
In the opener, Kennesaw State (25-19) rode the right arm of junior Logan Viers (11-5) and two hits apiece from seniors Rachel Dennis and Megan Veringa as the two combined to go 4-for-6 with a triple and home run, respectively.
 
The solid pitching and extra-base hit power continued in the nightcap as senior Morgan Sikes worked five strong innings, allowing two unearned runs while Veringa, junior Courtney Sutter and senior Missy Perkowski homered. Dennis also doubled, tripled and scored two runs.
 
"It was great to back on track tonight," head coach Tory Acheson said. "I'm very proud of these kids for bouncing back the way they did. It was a total team effort where all facets of the team contributed.
 
"Logan really set the tone with her complete-game shutout and Morgan gave us a great start in game two and Jenna (Kniss) finished up well," Acheson added.
 
After allowing a pair of singles to open game one, Viers retired 11 consecutive batters before surrendering a leadoff single in the fifth inning. She promptly struck out the next three batters and finished off the Hornets by retiring the side in the seventh as she set down 17 of the final 18 batters she faced.
 
Viers' final line included three hits allowed, no runs, one walk and five strikeouts while throwing 70 pitches.
 
During her five innings of work in the nightcap, Sikes limited Alabama State to three hits, two unearned runs, walked one and struck out four. Kniss came on in the sixth and allowed two hits and struck out three.
 
After collecting seven hits in the opener, the Owls hammered out nine hits in game two as Taylor Denton, Dennis and senior Emily Bishop had two hits apiece. Veringa led off the fifth with her second home run of the day and Sutter and Perkowski produced back-to-back home runs with one out in the sixth.
 
"Offensively, we got great nights from Megan, Rachel, Courtney and Missy," Acheson said. "Then to top it off, our defense made some really strong plays. This is a nice way to build some momentum for the weekend."
 
Kennesaw State returns to Atlantic Sun Conference play on Saturday when it opens a three-game series at USC Upstate with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. The Owls enter the weekend a game out of first place and a half game behind the Spartans, who currently sit in third place.
 
NOTES
* With the doubleheader sweep, head coach Tory Acheson earned his 850th and 851st career wins. He has an all-time career record of 851-473 (.652) in 22 seasons. He is 57-38 (.600) in two years at Kennesaw State.
* The Owls improved to 13-1 when scoring in the first inning and 20-5 when scoring first.
* With her two home runs on Tuesday, senior Megan Veringa increased her career total to 19 and is one shy of moving into Kennesaw State's career top 10 list.
* Junior Courtney Sutter's home run in game two was the 21st of her career and tied her with Shannon Ross (1996-99) for ninth place KSU's all-time career home run list. 

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