Game One Box Score (PDF) | Game Two Box Score (PDF)
DELAND, Fla. – The Florida heat was no match for the offensive onslaught delivered by the Kennesaw State softball team (17-26, 8-12 ASUN Conference) in a doubleheader sweep of the Stetson Hatters (20-31, 9-11 ASUN) Saturday afternoon.
Third baseman
Taylor Cates blasted her team and conference-leading 15th homer of the season, putting her one shy of the KSU single-season mark.
The Black and Gold recorded 15 runs off 24 hits across the two games, blanking the Hatters in a game one run-rule win, 8-0. KSU routed Stetson with a 7-2 final in game two.
Faith Alexander and
Brinaya Bailey led the charge offensively, combing for eight hits against the Hatters Saturday.
GAME ONE (W, 8-0 – six innings)
Leadoff walks from Alexander and
Katie Greep set up an RBI single from Bailey in the opening frame to give the Owls a 1-0 lead out of the gate.
After three-straight scoreless innings from starter
Melanie Bennett (12-14), the Owls added to their lead in the fourth.
A one-out double from
Isabella Galloway scored
Ty Hardeman from first. Galloway came around to score later in the inning off a double to right center by Greep. KSU led 4-0 after the fourth.
The Owls added another run in the fifth and increased the lead to 5-0 on a groundout from Galloway with the bases loaded that scored
Kiera Cooper.
Another three-run inning for the Black and Gold got started in the sixth after a single from Bailey scored Greep on a throwing error by the Hatters. Back-to-back singles from
Pacy Villa and Hardeman plated
Taylor Cates and
Caroline Shumeyko.
The defense kept the Hatters scoreless in the bottom of the sixth to secure an 8-0 win via run-rule.
Bennett pitched all 6.0 innings, only allowing five hits and was credited with the victory.
GAME ONE NOTES
>> Alexander notched her ninth stolen base of the season and third in the last two games.
>> Notable reached-base streaks increased for Bailey (17), Cates (8), Alexander (8) and
Kiera Cooper (3).
>> Cates increased her hitting streak to five games, the longest-active streak on the team.
>> This is the third shutout by the Owl defense this season and the second against an ASUN opponent (Lipscomb on Apr. 3)
>> The win marked the first road ASUN victory for the Owls this season.
GAME TWO (W, 7-2)
After Alexander led off the game with a triple, Bailey repeated the start of game one and brought her home to give KSU a 1-0 lead. Alexander picked up her second hit in the next inning, scoring Hardeman and increasing the Owl lead to 2-0.
Cooper pushed it out to 3-0 after sending a solo shot to center field for her fifth home run of the season.
Hardeman posted the Owls' second triple of the game and scored after a double from Galloway to give KSU a 4-0 lead.
The Owls scored again in the fourth on a solo shot from Cates to make it a 5-0 game.
Stetson added its first runs of the series in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 5-2.
Cates tallied another RBI in the top of the sixth, scoring Alexander on a sacrifice fly. Cooper doubled later in the inning to score Greep, giving the Owls a 7-2 advantage.
Kennesaw State did not allow another Hatter run in the final two innings to complete the doubleheader sweep.
Lindsey Kyte (2-5) pitched 6.0 innings and allowed only two earned runs, earning her second win of the season.
GAME TWO NOTES
>> Kennesaw State has now swept back-to-back Saturday doubleheaders, both against ASUN divisional opponents.
>> Bailey's double in the first increased her reached-base streak to 18 games.
>> Alexander notched her second triple and third by an Owl this year.
>> Cates' six-inning sacrifice fly marked her fifth of the season, breaking the KSU single-season record.
>> Both Alexander and Cates improved their reached-base streaks to nine games. Cates' hitting streak now stands at six games.
ON DECK
The series finale against the Hatters is set for a 1:00 p.m. first pitch on Sunday, May 1.
KSU returns to Bailey Park on Friday, May 6 for games one and two against the Jacksonville Dolphins.
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.
