Box Score (PDF)
TROY, Ala. – A stingy defensive outing from the Kennesaw State softball team (3-5) led to a 1-0 blanking of the Troy Trojans (6-3) Sunday.
The shutout marked
Tripp MacKay's 100th victory as Owl head coach. He became only the second KSU head coach to surpass the triple-digit win mark (Scott Whitlock).
Starting pitcher
Melanie Bennett (2-1) kept the Trojans off home plate for 7.0 innings, allowing only three hits and striking out three. The win marked her 46th victory as an Owl.
Birthday girl Taylor Cates got the first hit for the Owls with a first-inning double. Brinaya Bailey was the only other Owl to get a hit through the first four innings.
In the fifth inning, Kiera Cooper scored the game's lone run in the form of a solo homer to left, putting KSU up 1-0.
Bennett and the Owl defense allowed only one hit for the remainder of the contest, sealing the 1-0 victory for KSU.
The Kennesaw, Ga. native forced the Trojans to go 0-for-7 with two outs and 0-for-8 with runners on-base.
GAME NOTES
>> Bennett recorded the 49th complete game of her Owl career.
>> Cooper is the only Owl to hit a homer thus far in 2023.
>> Cates has now stolen a base in each of her last four games. She has also played in 144 consecutive games and made 143 consecutive starts.
>> Kennesaw State extended its ASUN-leading scoring streak to 36 games.
ON DECK
The Black and Gold are set to renew their rivalry against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 5:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ACC Network Extra.
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.
