Game 1: Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (HTML)
Game 2: Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (HTML)

DELAND, Fla. – The Kennesaw State softball team battled Stetson to a doubleheader split Saturday afternoon, utilizing some late-game magic to eke out a win in game two of a pair of close one-run affairs.
 
Game 1: The day started with a defensive battle between KSU (23-21, 8-6) and Stetson (15-23, 4-7), as neither team could break through until the sixth inning. The Owls had their chances to end the deadlock with Brea Dickey legging out an infield single in the top of the first before being stranded at third base. 
 
KSU kept it rolling in the top of the third with a walk followed by back-to-back singles from Kira Czyrklis and Katie Greep to put runners on the corners with two outs, but that's where they would stay as the Hatters closed the inning with a groundout. 
 
With nothing doing for either team through the next two innings, the Owls once again looked to spark something as Maddie Roth opened the sixth with a lead-off single. A fielder's choice and a single from Raleigh Williams put runners on first and second with one out, but the Hatters' defense kept it scoreless throwing out Czyrklis at third and forcing a fly out to end the inning.
 
Stetson finally broke the tie in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back singles followed by a sac bunt to put two runners in scoring position with one out. Stetson's Devin Lewis plated the deciding run on the following at-bat with an infield single before the Owls could close out the inning. KSU attempted to rally in the seventh with a single from Jessie Mullen, but that would be all the Owls could manage as Stetson ended the game with back-to-back plays from the third baseman.
 
Game 2: The Owls went to work early in the second game as Hannah Thomason drew a lead-off walk only to steal second shortly afterwards. With two outs and Thomason in scoring position, Czyrklis stepped up and ripped a single up the middle to bring Thomason home and give the Owls a 1-0 lead. KSU would end up loading the bases in the first behind a single from Greep and a walk from Lexi Solorzano, but Stetson closed out the inning before any more damage was done.
 
The Hatters knotted the game up in the bottom of the third as Blake Crews drew a lead-off walk only to be moved to second off the sacrifice bunt and eventually brought home by an RBI single.
 
After a pair of scoreless innings, Stetson looked for another late rally, loading the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. Unfazed, Hailey Andrews proceeded to strike out the next two batters to close out the inning, but in the process threw an errant pitch that allowed the Hatters to score from third and take a 2-1 lead.
 
With their backs against the wall, Dickey came through for the Owls with a lead-off single down the right field line. After moving to third following a sacrifice bunt and a groundout, Thomason stepped into the batter's box for one last shot at extending the game. Thomason hit a dart that the Hatters' third baseman couldn't handle, allowing Thomason to reach on the error and Dickey to score to tie the game 2-2. Thomason went on to steal second right before Christen Florence blasted a single up the middle to bring Thomason around to score and give KSU its first lead of the day 3-2.
 
Stetson eventually brought the inning to an end, but the damage was done as the Owls shut the Hatters out in the bottom of the seventh to earn the victory.
 
Notes: Maddie Roth, Brea Dickey and Kira Czyrklis all recorded at least one hit in both games, with Roth finishing the day 3-of-5 at the plate … Hannah Thomason did not record a hit on the day, but logged two runs scored while going 2-for-2 on stolen base attempts … Thomason needs only two more swiped bags to tie the KSU record for career stolen bases … Czyrklis has now reached base in 10 straight games, the longest active streak for any Owl … Katie Greep logged her seventh multi-hit game of the year, going 2-of-3 in game two … Raleigh Williams recorded her 10th hit of the year after coming on to pinch hit in the sixth inning of game one … after logging zero strikeouts in game one, Hailey Andrews tossed eight Ks in game two to mark her 12th game this season with eight or more strikeouts … Andrews finished the day with two complete games, pitching 13 innings while allowing only two earned runs.
 
Up next: The Owls and Hatters will decide the series Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m.