G1 Box | G2 Box
KENNESAW, Ga. – Freshman arms and offensive firepower lifted Kennesaw State University softball to a doubleheader sweep Friday to begin the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament at Bailey Park. The Owls posted run rule victories against Jacksonville State and Purdue Fort Wayne.
Game 1
Freshman Melanie Bennett (1-0) was stellar in her debut. She gave up one unearned run on two hits over five innings pitched with five strikeouts in the 9-1 decision.
The first inning started off strong for the Owls as Jade Lee's two-run single brought in Brea Dickey and Faith Alexander. Freshman Cheyanne Sales kept the inning going with an RBI double to left center and later scored on an RBI single by Taylor Cates.
After a leadoff single in the fifth by Christen Florence, Dickey drove her in with an RBI double to center. A hit-by-pitch by Lee and a wild pitch set up an RBI groundout by Sales. Lexi Solorzano walked to set the stage for Taylor Cates' RBI single to make it a 7-1 game. Raleigh Williams walked to load the bases for Andrea Summey. She walked to drive in a run and two pitches later, Cates scored on a wild pitch to end the game.
Game 2
Senior Hannah Thomason started off the home lineup by reaching on an error, then the Owls recorded three consecutive hits with Lee driving in two runs on an RBI single up the middle. Solorzano hit a sac fly to give the Owls a 3-0 lead in the first.
Much like Bennet, the new arm of Kristen Davis quieted the opposition, this time Purdue Fort Wayne. Davis (1-0) also went five frames with four hits, no runs, three walks, and no strikeouts against 22 batters.
KSU got a run in the third when Dickey led off with the inning with a single and eventually scored on a wild pitch. The captain came through again a frame later with a two-run triple to deep left.
Sales delivered the run rule margin in the fifth with a two-run blast over the leftfield wall and an 8-0 KSU victory.
Action continues tomorrow as the Owls play the Mastodons at 2 p.m. and the Gamecocks at 4 p.m. Admission to the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament is free.
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.
