Game 1: Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)
Game 2: Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)
Photo Gallery (Kyle Hess)

KENNESAW, Ga. – Seniors Logan Viers and Courtney Sutter provided the pitching and power to lead the Kennesaw State softball team to a 4-1 game two victory and a split of its ASUN Conference doubleheader with USC Upstate Saturday at Bailey Park.
 
Viers (9-4) tossed a complete game and Sutter connected for a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth that capped a four-run inning that held up as the Owls (26-10, 3-2) bounced back from a 5-3, 11-inning loss in game one.
 
Both teams entered the day tied with Florida Gulf Coast atop the ASUN Conference standings. After Saturday's play, Kennesaw State and USC Upstate (30-8, 3-2) are tied with Lipscomb, while North Florida is 2-0 after sweeping Florida Gulf Coast.
 
After allowing a run in the first, Viers held the Spartans scoreless over the final six innings, scattering seven hits and striking out one.
 
Jessie Mullen started the Owls' winning rally with a walk to open the fifth and scored the tying run on a base hit by Taylor Denton. Noelle Winkles followed with a single, and Sutter drove in both runners with a home run over the right field wall.  
 
In the opener, Kennesaw State and USC Upstate were locked in a pitchers' duel as the Owls' Alley Cutting and the Spartans' Holly McKinnon were on their game.
 
The two teams were held scoreless through nine innings before the international rule of placing a runner on second base was put into effect in the 10th inning.
 
After the Spartans scored a run in the top of the 10th, the Owls answered in the bottom half of the inning with a clutch two-out hit to right field by Sutter that scored Hannah Thomason, who opened the frame at second base.
 
In the top half of the 11th, USC Upstate took advantage of three hits and a KSU error to score four runs and take a 5-1 lead.
 
The Owls answered back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring a pair of runs on RBI singles by Mullen and Denton. Kennesaw State had the tying runs on base but USC Upstate starter Holly McKinnon (16-4) escaped further damage and the Spartans held on for the win.
 
USC Upstate won the opener despite being out hit by Kennesaw State, 12-9, and the Spartans' defense made several nice plays to keep the Owls from potentially big innings.
 
Cutting (13-5) continued to be a workhorse for Kennesaw State as she pitched all 11 innings, allowed nine hits, one earned run, walked two and struck out four. In three ASUN Conference starts, the KSU freshman has logged 31 innings, allowed two earned runs while recording a 0.45 ERA.
 
Denton led the Owls offensively as she went 4-for-7 with a run scored and two RBIs. Sutter made the most of her two hits on the day as she drove in four runs.
 
The two teams close out the weekend with the rubber game of the series Sunday at 1 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.