Box Score (XML) | Watch Wednesday's Elimination Game vs. Liberty LIVE

LYNCHBURG, Va. -- The top-seeded Kennesaw State softball team fell for the first time in the NISC Tournament with a 5-4 setback to Lamar, in a game that finished Wednesday morning at the Liberty Softball Stadium in Lynchburg, Va.
 
The game began Tuesday night, but was halted by rain at 10:10 p.m. with Lamar leading, 5-4, in the middle of the fifth inning. The Cardinals (34-29) completed the victory when the game resumed Wednesday to advance to the NISC championship game.
 
The Owls (40-19) slip to the loser's bracket where they will face Liberty in an elimination game on Wednesday at 10:15 a.m. The winner of that game plays Lamar again Wednesday, needing to beat the Cardinals twice.
 
The game was back and forth early with the Owls scoring twice in the top of the first thanks to RBI singles from Courtney Sutter and Noelle Winkles. The game began with consecutive singles from Hannah Thomason and Olivia Tamewitz, who each later scored thanks to Sutter and Winkles.
 
Lamar struck back with a run in the home half then grabbed the lead with two runs in the third.
 
Winkles led off the fourth with her first triple this season and eventually scored the equalizer when Chandler Griffin stroked an RBI single to left.
 
Another two-run frame gave the Cardinals the lead again, and the Owls had one more answer before the rain delay thanks to consecutive two-out doubles from Tamewitz and Kira Czyrklis in the fifth.
 
With the initial start of the game delayed four hours and 30 minutes by rain, a steady rain fell for much of night once the game began. The umpires halted play following the Owls' run in the top of the fifth with Lamar leading 5-4.
 
Ciara Luna pitched a complete-game victory for Lamar, scattering eight hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. The loss was pinned on Owl reliever Abigail Green (5-3).
 
Tamewitz was 2-for-4 and scored twice, while Winkles was 2-for-2 with a run and an RBI.
 
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-
 

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