Northern Illinois: Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)
Incarnate Word: Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)

HOUSTON – A solid offensive performance throughout the lineup paced the Kennesaw State softball team to a pair of victories during Friday's opening day of the Houston Challenge.
 
The Owls (4-7) opened the day with a 12-8 victory over Northern Illinois before defeating Incarnate Word, 5-4, for their third consecutive win.
 
Junior Jade Lee led Kennesaw State offensively as went 4-for-5 with a run scored and three RBIs, while junior Brea Dickey and freshman Taylor Cates also contributed three RBIs apiece.
 
Northern Illinois Recap
The big inning highlighted the Kennesaw State softball team's 12-8 victory over Northern Illinois.
 
Cates hit her first career home run and drove in a career-high three runs while Lee had a three-run pinch-hit double and Dickey produced a three-run triple for the Owls (3-7). Junior Olivia Gocke went 2-for-2 and scored three runs to contribute to an 11-hit attack.
 
Kennesaw State took a 5-0 lead with a 5-run third, and after surrendering the lead, rallied with a four-run fifth to take a 9-8 lead. The Owls extended their lead with a three-run sixth inning.
 
Incarnate Word Recap
Lee went 3-for-3, Lexi Solorzano hit a two-run home run and Jessie Mullen drove in a pair of runs to lead the Owls. Junior Abby Deane (2-2) came on in relief to pitch 3 1/3 scoreless innings, walk two and strike out two to earn the victory.
 
After Incarnate Word tied the score with two runs in the top of the fourth, sophomore Raleigh Williams came through a run-scoring single to give the Owls a 5-4 lead.
 
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