Game One Box Score (PDF) | Game Two Box Score (PDF)
 
LYNCHBURG, Va. – It was a tough Saturday for the Kennesaw State softball team (12-21, 4-7 ASUN Conference) after it dropped two games to the 2021 ASUN Champion Liberty Flames (27-12, 11-0 ASUN).
 
The Owls battled until the very end in both games but came up just short. The Flames extended their conference winning streak to 24 games dating back to last season.
 
GAME ONE (L, 8-4)
The bats started off hot in the first inning with a double from Katie Greep. She ran across home after a single from Taylor Cates, giving the Owls a 1-0 lead early.

Liberty responded in its half of the first and took a 3-1 lead over the Owls.

The Flames tacked on two more in the second to extend the deficit to 5-1.

In the top half of the fifth, a throwing error by Liberty on a stolen base by Mary Greg Anderson score Ty Hardeman from third. Anderson came home after a sacrifice fly from Cates later in the inning, capping a two-run fifth and cutting the Flame lead to 5-3.

The home team plated another run in the bottom of the fifth, pushing the deficit back out to three runs.

KSU added another run and put the score at 6-4 after Hardeman scored Isabella Galloway in the top of the sixth inning off a single to left field.

Liberty answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take an 8-4 lead.

The Owls' rally came up short in the top of the seventh. Lindsey Kyte (0-5) pitched 1.1 innings and was credited with the loss.

GAME ONE NOTES
>> Cooper and Greep extended their hitting streaks to six games.
>> Faith Alexander (4 games) and Galloway (3 games) also extended their hit streaks.
>> Hardeman has now recorded an RBI in four straight games.
>> Greep posted her fourth career multi-double game and second this season (4/2/22 vs. Lipscomb).

GAME TWO (L, 3-2)
The Flames got on the board first in the second inning, scoring on a sacrifice fly and getting out to a 1-0 lead. Liberty added another run the next inning to make it 2-0.

After two more scoreless innings from both sides, the Flames scored again in the bottom of the sixth to take a 3-0 lead.

With two outs in the top of the seventh, Cates doubled to right field for the Owls' second hit of the game. Brinaya Bailey then launched a no-doubter for her third homer of the season to make it a one-run game, 3-2.

After a single by Kiera Cooper on the next at-bat, the Owl rally ended one run short.

Melanie Bennett (9-9) pitched 6.0 innings with only two earned runs and was credited with the loss.

GAME TWO NOTES
>> Cooper extended her hitting streak to tie a 2022 team-high seven games.
>> Bailey recorded her sixth multi-hit game of the season.

ON DECK
The three-game series against the 2021 ASUN Champions concludes Sunday, April 10. First pitch is set for 12:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
The Owls return home on Saturday, April 23 for the beginning of a three-game series against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles. Admission is free and fans can follow along on the KSU Owl Network YouTube channel.
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.