KENNESAW, Ga. – Junior
Noelle Winkles clubbed a pair of home runs, including the game-winner in the bottom of the eighth inning, to lift Kennesaw State to a 5-4 victory over Illinois in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at Bailey Park. The Owls fell 19-1 in the nightcap.
Winkles' late-game heroics made a winner of senior
Logan Viers (4-1), who allowed six hits, four runs, walked four and struck out four in a complete-game effort.
In game one, Kennesaw State (9-4) scored single runs in the first and second innings on an RBI single by senior
Courtney Sutter in the first, and a solo shot by Winkles in the second.
Illinois (7-5) answered with a four-run third inning before freshman
Olivia Tamewitz tied the score with a two-run homer in the bottom half of the frame. It marked her first career home run.
After surrendering the four-run third, Viers settled down as she retired 10 in a row, and allowed just two of the next 15 batters to reach base, both coming via walks.
In the nightcap, Illinois collected 20 hits and took advantage of six Kennesaw State errors to record the victory.
Sutter supplied the offense for Kennesaw State with her team-leading sixth home run of the season in the second inning.
The Owls return to action on Sunday when they host Omaha at Bailey Park beginning at 11 a.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.
-#GoKSUOwls-
