TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Kennesaw State softball (3-8) began its run in the Bama Bash Friday with tough losses to Indiana State (4-3) and No. 11/7 Alabama (8-2) at Rhoads Stadium.
The doubleheader was headlined by freshman pitcher
Kenley Hilleary. The Decatur, Ala. native dominated in the circle with 10.0 innings pitched, a KSU career-high 11 strikeouts allowing only five hits and one run against Indiana State.
The Owl pitcher took a no-hit bid into the seventh inning against the Sycamores, the longest-such stretch for a KSU pitcher this season.
GAME ONE vs. Indiana State (L, 0-1)
The Owls' opening game of the Bama Bash was the definition of a defensive showcase. Neither squad recorded a hit in the first four innings of the contest.
Junior
Kiera Cooper notched the first hit of the game in the bottom of the fifth with one out.
Hilleary's no-hit bid extended into the seventh inning before Indiana State broke through with a right field single.
KSU managed three additional hits before the game went into extra innings.
The teams went back-and-forth with scoreless eighth and ninth innings before Indiana State recorded two doubles in the top of the 10th to score the game's lone run and propel the Sycamores to a 1-0 win.
Hilleary (0-2) pitched all 10 innings allowing only one earned run and was credited with the loss.
GAME ONE NOTES
>> The loss ended KSU's ASUN-leading scoring streak of 37 games dating back to 2022.
>> Hilleary set career highs in innings pitched (10.0), strikeouts (11), pitches (180) and batters faced (41).
GAME TWO vs. No. 11/7 Alabama (L, 2-9)
KSU led off the contest with a hit in the form of a right field single by shortstop
Faith Alexander.
The next inning, Alexander stepped up to the plate again and reached on a fielder's choice that plated Cooper to give KSU a 1-0 lead over the Tide.
Starter
Melanie Bennett (2-2) kept the No. 11/7 Crimson Tide scoreless in the first three frames before the home squad evened the game 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth.
A throwing error by Alabama in the top of the fifth scored
Ty Hardeman from third to put the Owls back in front, 2-1.
The Tide, who made the 2022 NCAA Regionals and were picked to finish fourth in the SEC this season, scored eight runs in the fifth and sixth innings to secure a 9-2 victory.
Bennett pitched 5.0 innings and was credited with the loss.
GAME TWO NOTES
>> Alexander made her 150th career start for Kennesaw State.
>> Alexander also extended her hitting and reached-base streaks to a team-leading three games.
ON DECK
The Owls return to the Easton Bama Bash Saturday, Feb. 25 for games against Southeastern Louisiana at 5:00 p.m. ET and Indiana State at 7:30 p.m. ET. KSU's rematch with the Crimson Tide is set for Sunday, Feb. 26 at 1:00 p.m. ET on SEC Network Plus.
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.
