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DeLAND, Fla. – Maddie Roth clubbed a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Kennesaw State softball team to a dramatic 4-2 walk-off victory over Florida Gulf Coast Friday in a semifinal game of the ASUN Conference Championship at Patricia Wilson Field on the campus of Stetson University.
 
The Owls (38-15) advance the championship game where they will face USC Upstate Saturday at 1 p.m. The Spartans (35-18) reached the title game after defeating Florida Gulf Coast, 6-3, in 10 innings Friday night.
 
Roth delivered the key shot after Lexi Solorzano singled with one out and Kira Czyrklis reached on a fielder's choice and error that put runners at the corners. Down 0-2 in the count, Roth sent the next pitch the opposite way and over the right-centerfield fence that set off a massive celebration at home plate as her teammates spilled out of the dugout to celebrate the victory.
 
The win was the second straight come-from-behind win in the tournament as the Owls have rallied from 2-0 deficits in back-to-back games.
 
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the fifth, Kennesaw State pushed across a run with two outs as Olivia Tamewitz walked, went to third on a single by Solorzano and scored on a single into left-centerfield by Kira Czyrklis.
 
Solorzano led KSU with three of the Owls' nine hits. Kennesaw State put runners on base in six of seven innings against FGCU starter Riley Randolph and reliever Taylor Bauman (2-4). Bauman allowed four hits and three runs in one inning of work.
 
Florida Gulf Coast (39-16) scored two-out runs in the third and fifth innings to take a 2-0 lead against KSU starter Alley Cutting (16-8). The Owls' sophomore right-hander tossed a complete game, allowing a pair of runs, seven hits, walked one and struck out six.
 
Kennesaw State is making its second championship game appearance since becoming eligible in 2010. The Owls reached the title game in 2012 where it fell to Florida Gulf Coast.
 
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.