JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Dominant pitching and the grandest of home runs lifted Kennesaw State softball (13-28, 5-10 ASUN Conference) past the Jacksonville Dolphins (20-22, 6-9 ASUN) 6-0 Sunday inside the Debbie and Fred Pruitt Softball Complex.
Starter
Melanie Bennett (7-9) pitched a seven-inning complete game striking out six while allowing only one hit and zero runs. She broke the KSU Division I career record for the most complete games with 56 in her storied Owl tenure.
Freshman catcher
Stacey Deputy caught a JU runner stealing in the opening frame for her ASUN-leading 12th caught stealing of 2023.
Brinaya Bailey led off the second with a single, extending her reached-base streak to six games.
Mary Greg Anderson pinch-ran for Bailey and stole second during the succeeding at-bat.
Deputy came through at the plate as well with a bunt single to score Anderson and put KSU up 1-0.
Stella Henry increased her reached-base streak to seven games with a single in the third inning.
Bennett got off to a hot start in the circle, allowing only one hit through the first three frames.
With bases loaded in the top of the sixth, junior
Kiera Cooper launched a ball to left-center to score
Bella Galloway,
Evan Fuller and Bailey to extend the Owl lead to 6-0.
It marked the second grand slam of Cooper's career and first since Mar. 9, 2022 at Sam Houston. The slam was the first by an Owl in 2023.
Cooper leads KSU with four homers this season.
Bennett collected three more strikeouts to slam the door on the Dolphins and give KSU the victory.
The Owls' ace broke her tie with Abbey Mixon and Amanda Henderson for second-most shutouts in KSU Division I history with 13.
The win snapped a nine-game losing skid for Kennesaw State.
ON DECK
The Owls travel to Knoxville, Tenn. for a midweek contest against the Tennessee Volunteers on Tuesday, Apr. 18 with first pitch set for 5:00 p.m.
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.
