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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State softball team's bid for an ASUN Conference sweep of visiting Jacksonville came up short as the Owls fell 6-5 in the series finale Saturday afternoon at Bailey Park.
 
On the strength of a fifth-inning leadoff home run by Kira Czyrklis, the Owls (31-13, 7-5) took a 5-4 lead, but the Dolphins (23-19, 3-6) rallied for two runs in the sixth to gain the upper hand and held on to salvage the final game.
 
Jacksonville took a 2-0 lead against Logan Viers in the second inning before Kennesaw State scored four times in the third inning to take a 4-2 lead. The Owls rallied with two outs as they strung together five hits and a walk.
 
Taylor Denton opened the frame with a base hit, stole second and scored on an RBI single by Hannah Thomason. Olivia Tamewitz followed with a walk, and she and Thomason scored on a two-run double by Katey Lynch. Courtney Sutter singled up the middle to drive home Lynch with the final run of the frame that gave the Owls a 4-2 lead.
 
Jacksonville tied the score with two runs in the fourth before Czyrklis hit a line drive home run over the left field fence to put Kennesaw State ahead, 5-4.
 
However, the Dolphins opened the sixth with three consecutive singles against Alley Cutting (15-7), took advantage of two KSU errors, and a clutch two-out hit to take a 6-5 lead.
 
Alyssa Bilodeau (7-6) pitched 4 1/3 innings of relief to earn the victory as she came on in the third, and after allowing a home run to Czyrklis to start the fourth and a single to Lauren Bennett, set down the final 12 batters she faced.
 
Kennesaw State returns to action on Wednesday (April 19) when it travels to Auburn to take on the No. 7 Tigers beginning at 7 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.