CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.- Kennesaw State kicked off day one of the Chattanooga Challenge on Friday, Feb. 19 falling to Western Kentucky and collecting their first win of the season over Indiana State.
Game 1: Western Kentucky 2, Kennesaw State 1
Western Kentucky got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning with two runs after a two-run double from Taylor Davis.
Taylor Cates scored the only run for the Owls with a solo home run to left field in the top of the fourth inning, putting the Owls on the board.
Kelsey Aikey (1-0) picked up the win for the Hilltoppers after pitching a complete game. She struck out seven and allowed just one run off four hits.
Melanie Bennett got the start for the Owls and was given the loss after 6.0 innings pitched. She recorded eight strikeouts against the Hilltoppers.
Game 2: Indiana State 7, Kennesaw State 9
Kennesaw State used the bottom of the sixth inning to its advantage to take game one against Indiana State with a 9-7 victory over the Sycamores Friday afternoon.
Brea Dickey got the ball rolling for the Owls in the bottom of the third inning with an RBI single down the left field line to score
Faith Alexander.
Lexi Solorzano extended the Owls lead to 2-0 with an RBI single to right field.
Indiana State responded in the top of the fourth with a pair of RBI singles from Grace Hunger and Leslie Sims to tie up the game. ISU added insurance with three runs in the top of the fifth. Amanda Guerico extended the Sycamore lead to 7-3 with a two-run homerun to center field in the top of the sixth
The Owls made a major comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning with three consecutive singles by
Kylie Vannavong, Alexander and Dickey to put the Owls ahead by one. Dickey scored the Owls' final run off a sacrifice fly by
Taylor Cates.
Freshman
Lindsey Kyte collected the win for the Owls after 4.1 innings of work. She recorded four strikeouts and gave up four runs on six hits.
Melanie Bennett picked up the save for KSU after a scoreless final inning in which she recorded two strikeouts.
Next Up
The Owls continue play at the Chattanooga Challenge on Saturday, February 20 against WKU at 12:30 p.m. and UT Chattanooga at 5:30 p.m. for their first meeting.
