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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A three-run sixth inning proved decisive as the Kennesaw State softball team fell 5-2 to Auburn during the opening game of the 2018 NCAA Tallahassee Regional Friday at JoAnne Graf Field at the Seminole Softball Complex.
 
Tied 2-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Tigers (41-15) scored three runs with two outs to move onto a winner's bracket game versus host Florida State on Saturday. The Owls (39-16) will play Jacksonville State in an elimination game at 2:30 p.m.
 
"It was a good game. In regionals there really are no blow outs, so it comes down to mistakes here and there and a key hit and I think Auburn did a good job of that so hats off to them," head coach Pete D'Amour said. "Our kids competed and I told everybody that we would, so I'm proud of them."
 
Kennesaw State took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth as it took advantage of a leadoff single by Alexa Solorzano. Pinch-runner Raleigh Williams eventually came around to score following a sacrifice by Kira Czyrklis, a single by Maddie Roth and run-producing opposite-field single by Patricia Awald.
 
After Auburn answered in the bottom of half of the frame, the Owls played little ball in the fifth to tie the score. Lauren Bennett and Andrea Summey led off with back-to-back singles and advanced to second and third following an infield groundout. Bennett eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Solorzano.
 
The game changed in the sixth inning as the Tigers had their first two batters reach via a leadoff hit and walk. Both runners eventually got to second and third with two outs before Auburn's Alyssa Rivera drove home a pair of runs with a base hit and Kendall Veach followed with an RBI double.
 
"She (Alley Cutting) did a pretty good out. Out of the seven hits we gave up and I think two made it to the outfield so she really didn't have to change much," D'Amour said.
 
Cutting (17-9) started for the Owls and pitched in some tough luck as five of Auburn's seven hits did not leave the infield. In six innings, she allowed seven hits, five runs, walked one and struck out three.
 
"I felt like my mental state stayed the same, but obviously Auburn's has good hitters and they're obviously going to hit the ball," Cutting said. "I kept the same approach and the outcome was the outcome."
 
Bennett led the Owls offensively with two hits and a run scored.
 
"In the big scheme of things, it's (making NCAAs) where the program's going," D'Amour said. "We played Auburn really tough at their place, losing to 2-1. I knew we would compete here. It was just a bigger stage and our girls reacted well to it so they didn't see that the moment was too big.
 
"That is what I asked them yesterday. I keep telling them all the time it's just where the program's going," D'Amour said. "You've got to expect to be here and I knew after practice yesterday that we'd come to compete."
 
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.