Game One Box Score (PDF) | Game Two Box Score (PDF)
KENNESAW, Ga. – After being honored pregame for Senior Day, Katie Greep gave one more incredible performance at Bailey Park as the Kennesaw State softball team (21-26, 12-12 ASUN Conference) completed a series sweep of the Jacksonville Dolphins (15-31, 9-15 ASUN) Saturday afternoon.
Third baseman
Taylor Cates also made her mark on the last day of the regular season, launching her KSU single-season record-breaking 17th homer of 2022 in game two, contributing to a 9-1 win for the Owls.
A dominant, three-hit outing in the circle for starter
Lindsey Kyte (3-5) and a three-hit day for Greep headlined a 6-1 win in game one. Greep had four hits in her final two starts at Bailey Park.
Kennesaw State won each of its last seven games and nine of the last 10 to close out the regular season.
GAME ONE (W, 6-1)
The Dolphins scored in the opening frame, getting out to a 1-0 lead before KSU took the plate.
Greep got the scoring started for the Owls, doubling down the right field line to plate
Faith Alexander from first base.
Brinaya Bailey brought Greep home two batters later to give the Owls a 2-0 lead after one.
Alexander reached base again in the next inning, scoring
Isabella Galloway on an infield single, getting a 3-0 advantage over the Dolphins.
In the bottom of the third, an outfield error from Jacksonville on a single from
Pacy Villa allowed
Kiera Cooper to score. During the next at-bat,
Ty Hardeman reached on an infield error to send Villa home.
With the bases loaded in the inning, Alexander singled to right to score Hardeman and the Owls took a 6-1 lead after three.
Jacksonville was held scoreless in the final four innings to seal the win for KSU.
Kyte pitched 7.0 innings allowing only one run and earned her third win of the season.
GAME ONE NOTES
>> With the win, Kennesaw State softball remains the only NCAA Division I in the state of Georgia of 30 years or more to win at least 20 games every season.
>> Cates improved her hitting streak (9) and reached-base (13) in game one.
>> Greep and Galloway also increased their reached-base streaks (7).
GAME TWO (W, 9-1 – five innings)
Cates gave the Owls their first run of the game, scoring Greep on an RBI double in the bottom half of the first. Bailey reached on an error on the next at-bat that scored Cates, putting KSU up 2-0 after one.
Kennesaw State scored again in the bottom of the second after Galloway came home on a single from Alexander. Later in the inning,
Mary Greg Anderson scored after Cates drew a bases-loaded walk. The Owls led 4-0 after two.
Villa crushed her third homer of the year in the bottom of the third, sending Cooper home and giving KSU a 6-0 lead.
Jacksonville hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth to cut into KSU's advantage, 6-1.
Cates kept the scoring streak alive, sending her KSU single-season record-breaking 17th homer of the year over the left field fence in the bottom of the fourth.
Later in the inning, back-to-back RBI singles from Hardeman and Galloway scored Cooper and Villa, giving KSU a 9-1 lead after four.
Laura Bishop (1-3) pitched the final 0.2 innings and secured the run-rule win for the Owls in the top of the fifth.
Melanie Bennett (15-14) started the game for KSU, pitching 4.1 innings and earned the victory.
GAME TWO NOTES
>> The series sweeps of Jacksonville and Stetson mark the first back-to-back series sweeps (non-conference or conference) since 2018.
>> This is the fifth consecutive full season the Owls have finished ASUN play with a record of .500 or better.
>> Cates improved her hit streak to a team season-high 10 games with a 13-game reached-base streak.
>> Greep, Anderson and Galloway each increased their reached-base streaks to seven games.
ON DECK
No. 6 Kennesaw State heads to Jacksonville, Fla. on Tuesday, May 10 for game one of the 2022 ASUN Softball Championship against No. 7 Stetson at the UNF Softball Complex.
The Owls swept the Hatters in their meeting earlier this season.
First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m. on ESPN+.
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.
