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LYNCHBURG, Va. – Kennesaw State used a three-run second inning to pull away from Weber State, while Alley Cutting and Abigail Green combined for a shutout as the Owls blanked the Wildcats, 4-0, in the quarterfinals of the National Invitational Softball Championship Monday in Lynchburg, Va.
 
The team's 40^th win advances the Owls (40-18) to the semifinal round against Lamar (33-29) Tuesday at 4 p.m. on ESPN3 at Liberty Softball Stadium. Lamar defeated Illinois State earlier Monday, 2-1. Weber State fell to 37-21-1.
 
Courtney Sutter's RBI grounder in the first inning put the Owls on the board, and tournament's No. 1-seed tacked on three more in third to give Cutting and Green the cushion they needed.
 
"Our pitching was good enough to win today," said head coach Pete D'Amour. "Alley didn't have her best stuff but she competed. Abby threw well, too. Like almost of the postseason games I've been involved in, the pitching and defense gave our offense a chance to win. We're looking forward to getting back on the field tomorrow."
 
Cutting played with fire, stranding nine runners over the first four innings, but she and the defense were up to the task. Green entered with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth and coaxed a pop fly in the infield to end the threat. In the seventh, Green dodged a two-out single to nail down her fourth save and give Cutting her 20^th win.
 
The ASUN Freshman of the Year, Cutting scattered nine hits over her 5.2 innings in the circle with two walks and two strikeouts to improve to 20-10. Both her strikeouts stranded two runners in each the second and third innings.
 
Katey Lynch kicked started the Owls' three-run second when she pounded her third triple of the year off the wall in right. Lauren Bennett's RBI fielder's choice made it 2-0. A wild play followed to double the lead as Hannah Thomason bounced a ball back to the pitcher, who misfired home. The ball got away to allow Chandler Griffin to score from third and Bennett from second.
 
Kira Czyrklis was 2-for-3, while Olivia Tamewitz and Lynch accounted for the Owls other four hits.
 
Weber State reliever Kirtlyn Bohling pitched scoreless, hitless ball over the final three innings to keep the Wildcats in the game. Takesha Saltern, KyRae Kogianes and Sydney White head had two hits for WSU. Taitana Su'esu'e was hung the loss (15-7), allowing four runs and four hits in three innings.

The shutout for the Owls is their eighth this season, and first since blanking Lipscomb, 2-0, on April 29.
 
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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