ORLANDO, Fla. – Kennesaw State softball (8-16) completed its run in the UCF Round Robin with two hard-fought losses to Toledo (7-11) and RV UCF (15-13) Sunday at the UCF Softball Complex.
The Rockets took game one 7-6 despite a late-game rally from the Owl offense while the Knights won KSU's weekend finale, 8-0.
Taylor Cates shined at the plate for Kennesaw State, going 3-for-4 against Toledo with two doubles, three RBI and one run scored. It marked her second-straight game with two doubles and three RBI.
Sophomore
Ty Hardeman was the only Owl to record a hit in both games, going 2-for-4 with a double and one run scored.
GAME ONE vs. Toledo (L, 6-7)
Toledo got out to a 1-0 lead after scoring in the bottom of the second inning.
Cates evened the game at one run with an RBI single to score
Madison Miller in the top of the third.
The Rockets responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning to go up 4-1.
The Kennesaw State offense took flight in the top of the sixth after a Cates double scored
Laura Bishop to cut the Toledo lead to 4-2.
In the next at-bat,
Brinaya Bailey cleared the bases and scored Cates and
Stella Henry to even the game at 4-4.
Toledo added three runs in the bottom of the sixth to retake the lead, 7-4.
In the top of the seventh, Hardeman scored on a Toledo throwing error during Henry's at-bat to get the Owls within two.
Three at-bats later with Henry on and two outs, Cates doubled again to send her home and make it a one-run game, 7-6.
The Owls' rally ended just short as the Rockets collected the final out before KSU could tie the game.
Starter
Melanie Bennett (3-4) pitched 2.0 innings and was credited with the loss.
GAME ONE NOTES
>> Cates extended her hitting streak to seven games and her reached-base streak to 10 games, both mark the longest by an Owl thus far in 2023. Her hit streak is the third-longest of her KSU career.
>> Cates recorded the eighth three-hit game of her Owl career and first since May 12, 2022 vs. Jacksonville State at the ASUN Championship.
>> Faith Alexander extended her reached-base streak to eight games.
>> Hardeman's KSU career-long hit streak improved to six games.
GAME TWO at RV UCF (L, 0-8 – Five innings)
UCF got out to an early 6-0 lead after three innings.
In the top of the third inning, Hardeman doubled to increase her hitting streak to a career-long seven games.
The Knights added two more in the fourth to take an 8-0 advantage.
Starter
Laura Bishop (1-3) pitched 3.0 innings and was credited with the loss.
ON DECK
The Owls open ASUN play with a three-game series against Austin Peay beginning Friday, Mar. 17 through Sunday, Mar. 19 in Clarksville, Tenn.
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.
