G1 Box | G2 Box
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State moved to 4-0 for the first time since 2016 with a pair of shutout victories to cap the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament Sunday at Bailey Park.
The Owls outscored Purdue Fort Wayne and Jacksonville State by a combined 18-0 margin and allowed no earned runs over the four games from Friday and Sunday.
GAME 1
The Owls defeated the Mastodons of Purdue Fort Wayne (0-3) by a score of 6-0.
Lindsey Kyte joined the freshman pitching party in her first career start. She earned her first career strikeout to begin the second inning and was the second of six consecutive batters set down.
Hannah Thomason scored to put the Owls on the board in bottom of the first after an RBI double to left center from Christen Florence.
Two frames later, Cheyanne Sales had a sacrifice flyout to left field that plated Dickey.
Meanwhile, Kyte continued to fly through the PFW lineup. She finished with just one hit allowed over seven innings with two walks and a strikeout against 27 batters.
In the bottom of the fourth, Andrea Summey scored when Dickey reached on an error by the FPW first baseman.
Lexi Solorzano's RBI double and Faith Alexander's run-scoring single to centerfield seemed to put the game away in the fifth, and Sales finished the scoring with an RBI groundout in the sixth.
GAME 2
The Owls took the Gamecocks of Jacksonville State (1-2) by storm in a 12-0 demolition.
To start the game, Dickey singled to left field, bringing in Thomason as the first run. Solorzano then had an RBI single to plate Dickey and give KSU two runs in the first.
The hosts erupted with eight runs in the second. Lee walked with the bags full, and Sales slammed a two-run double. Raleigh Williams had an RBI fielder's choice and Solorzano, Faith Alexander, Thomason, and Dickey all delivered RBI singles.
Cates got in on the scoring parade with an RBI single up the middle in the third, and Pacy Villa wrapped up the scoring with an RBI double in the fourth inning.
KSU induced the run rule with two hits and one runner left in the top of the fifth.
In total, the Owls churned out 12 hits and held the Gamecocks to give.
Peyton Elzey (1-0) continued the day's theme of fine pitching with no walks and a strikeout over her five innings. She was economical with 58 total pitches against 19 batters, backed up by stellar defense in the field.
Dickey and Cates both hit .667 over the weekend, and Sales produced a team-high eight RBI.
The Owls play at Auburn Thursday, Feb. 13 with a 7 p.m. ET first pitch.
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.
