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

SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Junior Taylor Denton became the program's all-time single-season stolen base leader during Kennesaw State's Atlantic Sun Conference doubleheader at USC Upstate Saturday at Cyrill Stadium in Spartanburg, S.C.
 
Unfortunately, the Owls (25-21, 6-8) Holly McKinnon (22-6), who is the A-Sun Conference's wins leader. The Spartans right-hander came out of the bullpen in both games to shut down rallies and lead USC Upstate to a par of wins as it defeated Kennesaw State 4-1 in game one and posted a 2-1 victory in the nightcap.
 
McKinnon logged 11 scoreless innings of relief, allowing four hits, walking two and striking out 15.
 
One Owl who did have success against McKinnon was Denton, who went 4-for-6 on the day, including two hits against the USC Upstate ace.
 
Denton got things going for Kennesaw State in game two as she singled with one out in the first inning and immediately made history by stealing second base and becoming KSU's all-time single-season stolen base leader. It was her 28th stolen base of the season, breaking a tie with Jennifer Hunt, who held the previous mark of 27 set in 2005.
 
Denton's base hit marked the first of three consecutive singles as Courtney Sutter followed with an RBI base hit to right and Missy Perkowski added a single through the left side. All three hits came against Spartans starter Lexi Shubert.
 
Shubert was relieved by McKinnon, who limited further damage by recording the final two outs.
 
Kennesaw State held a 1-0 lead until the fourth inning when USC Upstate tied the score by stringing together three consecutive two-out hits.
 
It remained a 1-1 tie until the sixth inning when Amy Sxymanowski opened the frame with a home run over centerfield wall that gave the Spartans a 2-1 lead and spoiled a solid outing from Morgan Sikes (11-5), who worked six innings, scattered eight hits, allowed two runs and walked one.
 
"The kids fought hard, made some great defensive plays and pitched well enough to win," head coach Tory Acheson said. "We just didn't get the hits we needed when we needed them. Give McKinnon credit, she pitched well but we need to scratch out a hit in the clutch."
 
In game one, the Kennesaw State offense was held to three hits by Lexi Schubert and Holly McKinnon.
 
After the Owls scored a run on a sacrifice fly by Perkowski in the top of third, the Spartans answered with four in the bottom half of the frame to take a 4-1 lead. USC Upstate took advantage of four hits, including a leadoff triple and a two-out, two-run home run by Abbie Millete.
 
Kennesaw State had an opportunity for a bigger top of the third as it loaded the bases with no outs, but was only able plate one run as McKinnon came on with the bases loaded and two outs and recorded the final out to keep the Owls from a bigger inning.
 
Viers (11-6) suffered the loss after working four innings, allowing four hits, four walks and four strikeouts.
 
"I'm proud of the kids for fighting the way they did, and hopefully, we can get the bats going tomorrow," Acheson said.
 
The Owls and Spartans close out the three-game series on Sunday with a single game beginning at 1 p.m. The game will be available on ESPN3.com.
 
NOTES
• The Owls, who have already established a single-season school record for stolen bases, added to that total on Saturday as they swiped four more bases. Through 46 games, Kennesaw State has totaled 116 stolen bases in 136 attempts. The previous was record was 74 accomplished in 90 attempts in 2015.
 
• Junior Taylor Denton and senior Kara Chambers have led the running game while establishing single-season career-highs. Denton is 28-for-30, while Chambers is 23-for-28. The duo also ranks second and third, respectively, on Kennesaw State's all-time career charts as Denton has 58 career stolen bases and Chambers has 53. Jennifer Hunt (2003-06) is KSU's career leader with 60.
 
• Denton and Chambers have 97 career runs scored on are three shy of reaching 100 for their careers. Chambers is also one hit away from 150 for her career.
 
• Sutter has 29 career doubles and is one away from 30 for her career.
 
• Junior Logan Viers and senior Morgan Sikes have established single-season career-highs for strikeouts. Viers has struck out 90 batters in 119 1/3 innings while Sikes has fanned 57 in 98 2/3 innings.
 
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