KENNESAW, Ga – An RBI single by Cheyanne Sales in the bottom of the eighth inning gave Kennesaw State a 2-1 victory over Penn State on the final day of the I-75 Challenge at Bailey Park.
 
After the first two batters reached base and moved into scoring position on a sac bunt, Penn State (8-12) struck first in the second inning on a sac fly, giving the Nittany Lions a 1-0 lead.
 
Peyton Elzey came in to pitch in relief in the fourth inning for Abby Deane, who started the game and went three innings giving up one run on three hits and walking two batters.  
 
After Jade Lee reached on an infield single to put runners on the corners, Kylie Vannavong delivered with an infield single to put the Owls (17-3) on the board and tie up the game.  
 
Kristen Davis entered the circle in relief for Elzey in the sixth with one out in the inning. Elzey pitched 2.1 innings while giving up only one hit and hit one batter.  
 
After back-to-back strikeouts by Davis, the next Penn State batter hit a single up the middle, but Hannah Thomason threw the runner out at home to keep the game tied in the top of the seventh.
 
The Owls broke through in the eighth when Sales hit a walk off RBI single to score Brea Dickey, giving KSU a 4-1 record in the 2020 I-75 Challenge.  
 
Davis picked up the win for the Owls improving her record to 3-0 after pitching 2.2 scoreless innings, scattering three hits, one walk, and two strikeouts.  

Notable Stats

• KSU improves to 13-6 all-time in the I-75 Challenge.
• The Owls are now 1-0 this season in extra-inning games. KSU went 1-2 in extra-inning games last season.
• KSU earned its first win over a Big Ten team since defeating Illinois in 2017.
• KSU is 3-2 against Power Five teams this season, the most wins in one season over P5 squads since finishing 3-2 in 2017.

NEXT UP
The Owls will fly away from the nest for a nine-game road trip, starting Wednesday, Mar. 4, just down the road in Atlanta to take on Georgia State.