JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A program-record five homers powered the Kennesaw State softball team (23-27) to a 14-4 thrashing of the Jacksonville State Gamecocks (31-24) at the UNF Softball Complex Thursday.
 
With the victory, the Owls advance to the next round of the 2022 ASUN Softball Championship.
 
Taylor Cates led the charge with two home runs to left field, posting a 3-for-4 day with three runs and a career-high five RBI.
 
Starter Melanie Bennett (17-14) dominated in the circle once again, allowing no runs on five hits and notching five strikeouts. Her 2022 earned run average stands at a season-low 2.66
 
Senior outfielder Katie Greep continued her electric run in the tournament with a 2-for-4 day including her first home run of the season. She is now 7-for-12 in three games at the tournament.
 
First baseman Brinaya Bailey also went 3-for-3 with a walk, three RBI and two runs, including her fourth home run of the season.
 
Greep put the Owls up early on an opposite-field solo home run in the opening frame. Two at-bats later, Bailey sent a home run to the same spot. The two home runs gave KSU a 2-0 lead.
 
The 2-0 advantage did not last long after Cates crushed a homer into left field in the third inning to score Greep, who notched her second hit of the game, and the KSU lead jumped to 4-0.
 
Cates struck again two innings later, plating Greep and put the Owls up 6-0 in the fifth inning
 
Despite six runs in the first five innings, the offensive firepower had not yet reached its full potential,
 
In the top of the sixth, Cates added another RBi, this time on a double, scoring Mary Greg Anderson. Bailey cleared the bases on the very next at-bat, plating Alexander and Cates to put the Owls up 9-0.
 
With Bailey on, Kiera Cooper doubled to put two on for Pacy Villa, who launched a home run of her own to put the Owls up 12-0.
 
Ty Hardeman and Isabella Galloway both reached in the following at-bats and came home on a single from Alexander to give KSU a 14-0 lead.
 
Jacksonville State added four runs in the bottom of the inning but its rally ended there, sealing a 14-4 win for Kennesaw State.
 
Bennett pitched all 6.0 innings and earned her 17th victory of the year.
 
GAME NOTES
>> Cates' two homers extended her KSU single-season record to 19 in 2022. She tied the KSU single-game record of two home runs for the second time this year and fourth time in her career.
>> Four of Cates' 19 home runs this season came against the Gamecocks.
>> The first six runs for the Owls in the top of the sixth were recorded with only one out in the inning.
>> Kennesaw State did not allow a run in the first five innings after Jacksonville State got the leadoff runner on in each inning.
>> Greep's homer marked her first of the season and sixth of her career. Her hit streak now stands at a season-high six games and her reached-base streak is up to 10 games.
>> Bailey's first inning homer is her fourth of the season.
>> Every player on the KSU starting lineup recorded a hit against the Gamecocks.
 
ON DECK
With the win, the Owls advance to the next round of the 2022 ASUN Softball Championship. KSU hits the field Friday, May 13 at 3:00 p.m. against No. 2 Central Arkansas or No. 4 North Alabama on ESPN+ at the UNF Softball Complex.
A win against in game one Friday sets up game two at 5:30 p.m. against the loser of No. 1 Liberty and No. 3 North Florida.
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.