Game One Box Score (PDF) | Game Two Box Score (PDF)
TROY, Ala. – The Kennesaw State softball team's (2-5) run through the Troy Invitational continued Saturday with two tough losses to Murray State (4-5) and Troy (6-2).
KSU plated runs in both games, extending its scoring streak an ASUN-leading 35 games dating back to last season.
The Owls lost game one to the Racers, 7-1 then fell to the Trojans in game two, 7-2. Troy has won each of its four games thus far in the tournament.
GAME ONE vs. Murray State (L, 7-1)
The Racers got off to a hot start, scoring five in the first two frames.
Melanie Bennett entered in relief for KSU in the third inning. She finished the contest with 5.0 innings pitched and seven strikeouts, the most in a game by an Owl this season.
Murray State added two runs in the seventh, pushing the deficit to 7-0.
In the bottom half of the inning,
Kiera Cooper launched her second career triple to right-center to score
Mary Greg Anderson and put the Owls on the board, 7-1. The Owls were unable to plate any additional runs in the final frame.
Starting pitcher
Laura Bishop (0-1) was credited with the loss.
GAME ONE NOTES
>> Stella Henry and
Kassidy Amerson-Fox made their first career starts for KSU.
>> The Owl defense stranded seven Murray State runners on base.
>> Cooper's seventh-inning triple was her first since 2021 and her second extra-base hit of the season.
GAME TWO vs. Troy (L, 7-2)
Troy managed three runs in the bottom of the first to get out to an early lead over KSU.
Taylor Cates got on base in each of her first two at-bats via walks, increasing her team lead in the category with seven on the season.
The Trojans added four runs in the fourth inning to extend their lead to 7-0.
Henry had a bunt single and stolen base in the fifth inning, the first of each in her Owl career. Cates singled in the next at-bat and fielding errors on the play scored Henry to put KSU on the scoreboard, 7-1.
A wild pitch during
Kiera Cooper's at-bat in the frame scored Cates, cutting the deficit to 7-2.
Starting pitcher
Kenley Hilleary (0-1) made her second career start and was credited with the loss.
Lindsey Kyte pitched 2.2 innings of relief with three strikeouts.
GAME TWO NOTES
>> Hits from Deputy and Cooper in the contest tied them with
Pacy Villa for the team lead with seven.
>> Cates has now stolen a base in three straight games.
>> Cates has now played in 144 consecutive games, 19 away from tying the Kennesaw State Division I record. She also made her 143rd consecutive start and is now 20 starts away from tying the KSU Division I mark.
>> The Owls have now scored in 35 straight games dating back to last season, the longest streak in the ASUN Conference.
ON DECK
Kennesaw State meets Troy in a rematch Sunday, Feb. 19 at 1:00 p.m. ET to complete the Owls' run in the Troy Invitational.
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.
