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

DELAND, Fla. – The Kennesaw State softball team opened ASUN Conference play with a split of its doubleheader at Stetson on Saturday.
 
Behind the solid pitching of freshman Alley Cutting, the Owls (23-9, 1-1) won a 10-inning marathon, 4-0, before falling 3-0 in the nightcap.
 
Game one featured a pitchers' duel between Cutting (12-4) and Stetson sophomore Tori Perkins as the two matched zeroes for nine innings before the Owls were finally able to break through with four runs in the 10th inning.
 
Cutting (12-4) was the story for Kennesaw State as she worked a career-high 10 innings, scattered five hits, walked four and struck out eight while throwing a career-high 173 pitches. She worked out of trouble in the sixth and seventh innings as Stetson advanced the potential go-ahead and winning run to third base, but was able to work out of trouble by getting a strikeout in the sixth and fly ball in the seventh to keep the Hatters scoreless.
 
After implementing the international rule by placing a runner on second base to begin the 10th, Kennesaw State took advantage of two hits, an error and sacrifice fly to take a four-run lead.
 
The inning began with Jessie Mulllen placed on second base. Taylor Denton led off with a single up the middle that put runners at the corners with no outs. After Denton stole second, Kennesaw State took advantage of an infield error that allowed Mullen to score, Denton advance to third and Hannah Thomason to reach first.
 
Following a stolen base by Thomason and a line out, Katey Lynch tripled to right-center field to score Denton and Thomason and give the Owls a 3-0 lead. Courtney Sutter capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly.
 
Cutting finished off the Hatters in the bottom half of the inning to record her 10th complete game and third shutout of the season.
 
In game two, Stetson starter Brooke Hutto (12-1) limited the Owls to a Winkles single and a walk to Chandler Griffin in seven innings.
 
The Hatters (23-8, 1-1) scored the only run they would need when Kelsey Watters homered in the first inning off Owls starter Logan Viers (7-4), who allowed six hits, three runs, walked one and struck out three in six innings.
 
Stetson scored twice in the fifth to extend its lead to 3-0.
 
The series concludes on Sunday when the two teams play the rubber game beginning at 1 p.m. (ET).
 
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.