KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State softball team fell victim to the long ball and had a difficult time generating offense of its own, falling twice during day two of the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament Saturday (Feb. 11) at Bailey Park.
Austin Peay (2-0) rode the strength of four home runs to record a 9-1 victory over the Owls (2-2) in the day's first game before Morehead State (2-1) posted a 6-0 victory over KSU in the nightcap.
The Governors broke through for five runs in the fifth inning on the strength of three home runs to take a 5-1 lead, and that proved to be sufficient run support for Kelsey Gross (1-0), who limited the Owls to seven hits in a complete-game effort.
Kennesaw State's lone run came in the second inning following a leadoff double by
Noelle Winkles and a two-out double by
Taylor Denton.
Freshman
Alley Cutting (1-1) made her second career start, worked 4 2/3 innings, allowed six hits, five runs, and struck out nine while not walking a batter.
In the fifth inning of a scoreless tie against Morehead State in the nightcap, the Owls loaded the bases with no outs on consecutive singles by Denton, pinch hitter
Chandler Griffin and
Hannah Thomason. However, KSU was unable to produce the clutch hit against Eagles starter Chelsea McManaway (1-1), who recorded two strikeouts and induced a popup to escape the jam.
Morehead State carried that momentum into the sixth inning as Robyn Leighton hit a one-out home run to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. They added a pair of unearned runs in the inning to build a 3-0 lead against Kennesaw State starter
Logan Viers (1-1).
Morehead State tacked on three more unearned runs in the seventh to build a 6-0 advantage.
Viers worked seven innings, allowed eight hits, six runs (one earned), walked three and struck out six.
Freshman
Olivia Tamewitz had a productive day at the plate for the Owls, going 3-for-6 in the two games, while Griffin, Denton and Winkles had two hits apiece.
Kennesaw State will conclude its first weekend of action on Sunday (Feb. 12) when it plays Morehead State at 3 p.m.
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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