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KENNESAW, Ga. – On a very special Sweet 16 Lexi's Day celebration Wednesday night, the Kennesaw State softball team hosted Georgia Tech to close out its season home-and-home series, falling to the Yellow Jackets 7-0.

Despite the loss, the Owls, Georgia Tech and the metro-Atlanta community came together to celebrate Lexi Kaiser before and during the game, helping to raise funds for a special birthday present for the Kaiser family. In total, the nearly 400 fans in attendance raised 4,750 dollars for Lexi Kaiser and her family that will go towards purchasing a lift that will help her get from her bed to her bathroom, something that will have a huge, positive impact on her for years to come.

How it happened: Georgia Tech (24-19) struck first after a double from Tricia Awald. After advancing to third on a fly out, Awald came around to score off an error on the following at-bat. The Yellow Jackets added another unearned run in the top of the third inning as Breanna Roper scored from second due to another KSU error.
 
The Owls (22-20) looked to even the game in the bottom of the inning as Hannah Thomason and Taylor Cates struck back-to-back singles to put two on with one out. Kira Czyrklis eventually loaded the bases, drawing her sixth walk in the last four games. With the bases juiced, Katie Greep stepped into the batter's box and struck a short blooper that looked to make it through the left side, but the Yellow Jackets' third baseman made a difficult grab to snag the ball before it landed and end the inning.
 
KSU had another chance in the bottom of the fourth inning as Lexi Solorzano blasted a double to deep left center with only one out, but KSU could not capitalize recording a fly out and a ground out to end the inning.
 
Georgia Tech extended its lead in the fifth inning with two outs and runners on first and second. A hit batter and two walks brought two more around before the Owls could get out of the jam, trailing 4-0.
 
The Yellow Jackets tallied their final runs in the sixth inning off a three-run home run from Crosby Huckabay.  
 
Notes: Jade Lee extended her hitting streak to seven games, finishing 1-for-3 … Lexi Solorzano notched her eighth double of the year, going 1-for-2 at the plate with one walk … Peyton Elzey drew the loss, finishing with four strikeouts and two earned runs over 6.1 innings … Christen Florence recorded a bunt single in her lone plate appearance of the game, with Hannah Thomason logging the only other hit on the day for the Owls.
 
Up next: The Owls head back to Florida for a three-game series at Stetson this weekend, taking on the Hatters in a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m., followed by the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m.