CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The Kennesaw State softball team split day two of the Chattanooga Challenge. The Owls defeated Western Kentucky in game one and fell to UT Chattanooga in game two.
GAME 1 Kennesaw State 5, Western Kentucky 4
After a slow start to the game, Kennedy Sullivan got the ball rolling in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homerun to put Western Kentucky on the board 2-0. Two more Hilltoppers would score later in the inning off an Owls throwing error.
KSU added a run when
Brinaya Bailey sent one over the center field fence picking up her first home run of the season.
The Owls would score four runs in the top of the seventh inning to take the lead for good. KSU got an RBI double to left center field from
Christen Florence, an RBI single down the left field line from
Lexi Solorzano and a two-run home run from
Taylor Cates to put the Owls ahead by one, 5-4.
Kelsey Aikey (1-1) suffered the loss after 7.0 innings of work giving up five runs on eight hits.
Melanie Bennett (1-2) earned the win for the Owls after stepping in for
Peyton Elzey (0-1) in the bottom of the fourth. Bennett picked up her first of the season, after going 3.2 innings, allowing only one run on two hits, walking one and collecting three strikeouts.
GAME 2 UT Chattanooga 7, Kennesaw State 5
The Owls started quick scoring one run in the top of the first inning.
The Mocs responded with a two RBI single through the left side by Kendall Forsythe to score Cameren Swafford and Kailey Snell in the bottom of the first.
UTC added five more runs in the bottom of the third inning thanks to a wild pitch, an Owls error, a double to right center field by Forsythe and a double down the right field line from Courtney Ball to extend their lead to 7-1.
KSU cut into the UTC lead in the top of the fifth inning with an RBI single to the shortstop from
Taylor Cates to load the bases,
Brinaya Bailey walked and a fielder's choice brought home
Marcela Lopez to cut the lead to 7-5.
In the top of the seventh inning
Lexi Solorzano added one more with a solo home run to center field.
Kate Thompson earned the win for UTC pitching the final 4.1 innings. She surrendered four runs on five hits, had two strikeouts and walked four batters.
Lindsey Kyte suffered the loss. She gave up seven runs on five hits and collected two strikeouts over 2.1 innings.
NEXT UP
The Owls will continue play at the Chattanooga Challenge Sunday, Feb. 21 at 12:30 p.m. against UT Chattanooga.
