Game 1: Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)
Game 2: Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)
Circle of Honor: Video | Photo Gallery

KENNESAW, Ga. – Late-inning heroics were the order of the day as the Kennesaw State softball team rallied for a pair of walk-off victories over visiting Jacksonville in an ASUN Conference doubleheader Saturday at Bailey Park
 
The Owls (19-18-, 4-4) needed an extra frame to post a 2-1 victory over the Dolphins (13-21, 1-4) in the opener, before rallying for two runs in the bottom of the seventh to record an 8-7 come-from-behind win in the nightcap.
 
Seniors Maddie Roth and Kira Czyrklis, and freshman Christen Florence led the Kennesaw State offense, while senior Hailey Andrews (11-10) earned victories in both games. Roth collected three hits, including two doubles, and three RBIs, while Florence had three hits and scored a pair of runs. Czyrklis had two hits and scored three runs.
 
Game 1 Recap
Jade Lee delivered a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth inning to drive home the game-winning run and lift the Owls to a 2-1 victory. The win was highlighted by a career-high, 15-strikeout performance from Andrews. The strikeout total was three shy of equaling the program record of 18 set by Brittany Matthews in 2008.
 
Czyrklis scored KSU's first run of the game after opening the second inning with a triple and scoring on an infield out. Andrews evened her season record after pitching eight innings, allowing five hits, one run and two walks.
 
Game 2 Recap
Freshman Katie Greep delivered a clutch bases-loaded hit in the bottom of the seventh inning that brought home the tying and winning runs to propel the Owls to the sweep.
 
Trailing 7-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh, Roth opened the inning with a double, Czyrklis reached on an error and Lexi Solorzano laid down a perfect bunt to load the bases. Greep followed with a base hit through the right side to drive home Roth and Czyrklis followed with the winning run following an error by the right fielder.
 
Roth led the Owls' 11-hit attack with three safeties, while Greep had two hits, Czyrklis and Florence scored twice and Hannah Thomason walked three times and scored two runs.
 
Andrews came on to pitch the seventh inning, retiring all three batters she faced while striking out one.
 
Circle of Honor
Prior to Saturday's doubleheader, the softball program inducted four individuals into the Circle of Honor. This year's class of honorees include sisters Jennifer (1995-1998), Kelly (2002-2003) and Lisa Lamb (2004-2005), and longtime Owls softball public address announcer Grant Case.
 
Jennifer Lamb Cone was a catcher for the Owls from 1995-98 and helped the Owls win four regular-season and Peach Belt Conference championships, make three NCAA Division II regional appearances and capture two national championships.
 
Kelly Lamb MacArthur appeared in an Owls uniform in 2002 and 2003 and contributed to Kennesaw State winning a pair of conference championships, an NCAA Regional championship and making a World Series appearance.
 
Lisa Lamb Bowes pitched for the Owls from 2004-06. She and her teammates claimed two conference titles, a Peach Belt Conference tournament championship and appear in two NCAA Regionals. Her 2005 team was runner-up at the NCAA Division II World Series.
 
Grant Case has served as the public address announcer for Kennesaw State softball for more than 25 years and has delivered a friendly and familiar voice to Owl fans.
 
Kennesaw State and Jacksonville wrap up their three-game series with a 1 p.m. contest Sunday at Bailey Park. The game will also be streamed live on the ESPN+ digital platform.
 
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.