CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The long ball lifted Kennesaw State softball (9-17, 1-1 ASUN Conference) past Austin Peay (12-10, 1-1 ASUN) 3-2 at Cathi Maynard Park Saturday.
Star senior
Taylor Cates went 2-for-3 at the plate including a three-run blast in the opening inning that the Governors were unable to surpass in the following seven frames.
Stella Henry continued her hot streak, leading off the game with an infield single followed by her seventh stolen base of the season.
Madison Miller followed the freshman with a bunt single of her own to put two on early for KSU.
With the two speedy outfielders on base, Cates crushed a homer to right field to put the Owls up 3-0.
Austin Peay scored one run in the bottom of the second to cut into the Owl lead, 3-1.
In the fourth inning,
Ty Hardeman singled to increase her hitting streak to nine games.
After three innings of allowing only one hit for the KSU defense, Austin Peay added another run in the bottom of the sixth to get within one run of KSU, 3-2.
The Governors' rally came up short in the bottom of the seventh as starter
Melanie Bennett (4-4) collected her 51st complete game with a strikeout for the final out of the game.
Bennett allowed only five hits and one earned run to earn her fourth victory of 2023.
The win marked Kennesaw State's first conference victory this season.
GAME NOTES
>> Hardeman extended her KSU season-high hitting streak to nine games.
>> Cates' homer was her second of 2023 and 43rd of her career. She is now one home run shy of tying Sharon Swanson (2010-13) for second on the Kennesaw State Division I career home run list.
>> Bennett is one win shy of 50 for her Kennesaw State career.
ON DECK
The rubber match between Kennesaw State and Austin Peay is set for Sunday, Mar. 19 at 2:30 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.
