Game One: Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (HTML)
Game Two: Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (HTML)
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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State softball team exploded for seven runs in game one of Saturday's doubleheader to win 7-4 and even the series against North Alabama, but the Owls couldn't keep the momentum going, falling in game two 3-0 to record the split and drop the series to UNA.
 
Game One: After a quiet start to the series on Friday, the bats warmed up in game one of the day's doubleheader. UNA (20-17, 6-9) struck first in the top of the first inning, drawing back-to-back walks with two outs. The Lions got on the board following a fielding error from the Owls (25-24, 10-8) to take a 1-0 lead.
 
KSU bounced back in a big way in the bottom of the inning as Hannah Thomason hit a lead-off single only to steal second moments later. After a sacrifice bunt moved Thomason to third, she would come in to score on a ground out to tie the game at 1-1. The Owls weren't done there as Kira Czyrklis creamed a triple to right center field before Raleigh Williams plated her with a single up the middle on the next at-bat to put KSU in front 2-1.
 
The Owls broke it open in the following inning as Brea Dickey and Jessie Mullen both drew walks, advancing on a wild pitch. With both runners in scoring position and one out, Thomason hit another infield single to score Dickey from third. Thomason would eventually be brought in to score off an RBI single from Maddie Roth. Czyrklis then came in to clear the bases with a double on the next at-bat, scoring Roth and Christen Florence to give KSU a commanding 6-1 lead at the end of two innings.
 
Taylor Cates put the icing on the cake in the third inning with a solo bomb over the left field wall. Leading 7-1, the Owls brought in Abby Deane to close it out in the fourth inning. UNA took it to Deane with back-to-back two out singles before loading the bases with a walk. The Lions scored on a passed ball, but KSU limited the damage to one run, forcing a ground out on the next at-bat.
 
North Alabama loaded the bases once again in the fifth inning off back-to-back singles and a hit batsman. Another hit batter and a sacrifice fly cut the Owls' lead to 7-4 before KSU closed out the inning.
 
Hailey Andrews returned to the mound in the top of the sixth, striking out four of the final six batters to hold off the Lions and take game one 7-4. Thomason filled the stat sheet in game one, going 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored, an RBI and two stolen bases. Czyrklis was a perfect 2-for-2 with a run scored and two RBIs while hitting a double and a triple. 
 
Game Two: The Owls looked to keep the momentum rolling, with back-to-back singles to open the first inning of game two, but could not bring either around to score. The series finale proved to be a more subdued affair than the first game of the day as the two teams combined for half as many hits than the opener.
 
The Lions pulled in front in the third inning as Meleah Hargett singled, advancing to second on a throwing error, before reaching third off a wild pitch. After a walk, Hargett came home on a double steal attempt to make it 1-0.
 
UNA added to its lead in the fifth inning with a lead-off double from Madison Daniel. She moved to third off a sacrifice bunt on the next at-bat only to score moments later thanks to an RBI single up the middle. The Lions recorded the final run of the game in the top of the seventh as Daniel reached on an error, eventually scoring off a throwing error as she attempted to steal third base.
 
Thomason, Florence and Jade Lee were the only Owls to register a hit in game two, finishing with one each.
 
Notes: Hannah Thomason broke the KSU career stolen base record with two swiped bags on the day to give her 81 in her career … Taylor Cates' home run marked only the second of her career … Thomason's three hits in game one marked her fourth game this year with three or more hits, she finished the day 4-of-7 at the plate with two runs scored … Thomason tied her season-high for the third time with two stolen bases in game one … Kira Czyrklis finished the day 2-of-2 after being forced to miss game two due to injury … Hailey Andrews finished the day with 13 total strikeouts over 12 innings of work … Andrews extended her streak to 12 straight games without allowing more than one earned run, recording only one earned run on the day … with seven strikeouts in game one and six strikeouts in game two, Andrews has recorded at least five Ks in five straight games.
 
Up next: The Owls open up their final week of the regular season at Georgia Southern on Wednesday (Apr. 24) at 5 p.m.