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DeLAND, Fla. – Noelle Winkles and Kira Czyrklis each hit two-run home runs to highlight a 14-hit attack as the Kennesaw State softball team defeated Jacksonville, 8-3, Thursday in the quarterfinals of the ASUN Championship Tournament at Patricia Wilson Field on the campus of Stetson University.
 
The Owls (37-15) advance to the semifinals where they will face Florida Gulf Coast (39-15) Friday at 12:30 p.m. The Eagles defeated USC Upstate, 6-1, earlier in the day.
 
Kennesaw State received two hits apiece from Olivia Tamewitz, Alexa Solorzano, Czyrklis, Patricia Awald, Maddie Roth, Winkles and Andrea Summey. Czyrklis went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs.
 
After falling behind 2-0 in the first inning, the Owls sent eight batters to the plate in the bottom half of the frame as the first five hitters reached base safely and KSU scored three runs on four hits to take a 3-2 lead.
 
Tamewitz, Solorzano and Czyrklis hit consecutive singles to begin the inning. Tamewitz and Solorzano executed a double steal for the first run and Czyrklis drove in Solorzano to tie the score. Jessie Mullen gave the Owls a 3-2 lead on a bases-loaded groundout.
 
Kennesaw State added to its lead with a two-out rally in the bottom of the third as Roth singled and Winkles connected for a two-run homer to give the Owls a 5-2 lead.
 
A three-run bottom of the fourth, highlighted by a run-scoring double from Solorzano and two-run home run off the scoreboard in left-centerfield by Czyrklis, gave KSU an 8-3 lead.
 
Alley Cutting (15-8) started for Kennesaw State and worked four innings, allowed three runs, six hits, walked two and struck out two.
 
Abigail Green came in to pitch the final three innings, allowed two hits and struck out five, include the three in the seventh to earn her first save of the year.
 
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. You can also follow head coach Pete D'Amour at @KSUSBCoach.

To learn more about The Owls Fund visit www.ksuowls.com/theowlsfund.