Game One Box Score (PDF) | Game Two Box Score (PDF)
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – The Owls' offensive prowess was on display Wednesday as the Kennesaw State softball team (7-13) split a midweek doubleheader against the Sam Houston Bearkats (9-11).
KSU tallied 18 runs between the two games including a 14-4 rout in the nightcap. The Bearkats snuck by KSU in a 5-4 heartbreaking loss in game one.
GAME ONE (L, 5-4)
The first two innings were scoreless for both teams as Lindsey Kyte got off to a stellar start, keeping the Bearkats out of the hit column.
KSU broke through with the first run of the game after a single by Katie Greep scored Ty Hardeman.
The bats were electric in the fourth inning as well with a bases-clearing double from Faith Alexander that increased the Owl lead to 4-0.
Sam Houston scored one run in the bottom of the fifth and three in the sixth to even the game at four runs apiece. The Bearkats hit a walk-off home run in the seventh to steal the victory, 5-4.
Kyte (0-2) pitched 7.0 innings and was credited with the loss.
GAME ONE NOTES
>> Greep extended her hitting streak to five games in game one, the second-longest by an Owl this season.
>> Cates hit her team-leading 23rd and 24th hits of the 2022 season. Both were doubles that brought her season total to six, another team-high mark.
>> The Owls batted 1.000 with bases loaded in the game.
GAME TWO (W, 14-4)
Cheyanne Sales started the second game with a sacrifice fly to score Alexander to give KSU an early 1-0 lead. Sam Houston evened the score in its half of the first inning.
The Owl offense led off the second inning with three singles courtesy of Isabella Galloway, Kiera Cooper and Ty Hardeman. Two batters later, Alexander and Greep each reached on a fielder's choice to plate Cooper and Hardeman to retake the lead for KSU, 3-1.
The Bearkats responded again with another run in the bottom of the second to cut the score to 3-2.
KSU answered by drawing four walks to leadoff the top of the third, pushing the margin back to two. Back-to-back at-bats from Caroline Shumeyko and Alexander scored two more runs, giving KSU a 6-2 lead after three innings.
With bases loaded in the fourth inning, Cooper crushed an 0-1 pitch to center field for a grand slam to put the Owl advantage at 10-2.
Sam Houston tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth, despite starter Melanie Bennett (5-6) collecting three of her 10 strikeouts in the inning.
Sales scored an additional run for the Owls in the top of the seventh, plating Greep on a one-out single. A total of four runs came across in the inning after Galloway drew a bases-loaded walk and Cooper reached on a fielder's choice.
The Black and Gold took a 14-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh. The Bearkat offense added a final run to cut the score to 14-4 but its rally ended there.
Bennett pitched 7.0 innings with only four earned runs allowed and no walks. She was credited with her third consecutive victory.
GAME TWO NOTES
>> Cooper's grand slam was the second homer of her KSU career and the second grand slam by an Owl this season.
>> Bennett's 10 strikeouts are the most by an Owl pitcher in a game this season. She leads the team with 58 punchouts.
>> Bennett also leads the team with seven complete games in 2022. She has 36 complete games in her career.
>> The nine-run margin of victory was the largest by the Owls since April 11, 2021 against Lipscomb.
>> The 13 runs scored against Sam Houston is the most since Feb. 15, 2020 in a 14-5 win over Eastern Illinois and ties the second-most runs scored in the Tripp MacKay era.
>> Cooper is the third Owl to have five RBI in a single game this season, joining Cates and Sales.
>> The Owls are undefeated this season when scoring seven or more runs (7-0).
ON DECK
The Owls return to Bailey Park on Wednesday, March 16 for a showdown against the Auburn Tigers set for a 6:00 p.m. first pitch. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Conference play opens on Saturday, March 19 in a doubleheader against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.
Admission is free for all 2022 Kennesaw State softball games.
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.
