LYNCHBURG, Va. – A defensive showcase inside Liberty Softball Stadium Sunday saw the Kennesaw State softball team (12-23, 4-5 ASUN Conference) fall 3-1 to the 2022 ASUN Champion Liberty Flames (21-13, 7-2 ASUN) Sunday.
Starter
Melanie Bennett pitched a gem in the circle with her fifth complete game of 2023 allowing only three runs and five hits while striking out four.
Bennett ended Flame infielder Rachel Craine's program record 11 at-bat reached-base streak with a strikeout in the bottom of the inning. Liberty struck first with one run in the frame to take an early lead.
A back-and-forth defensive slugfest continued through the first four innings including a four-pitch bottom of the fourth from Bennett.
In the sixth inning
Bella Galloway hit a hot shot to deep right center and a collision between the Flame center and right fielders to score
Taylor Cates from second to even the game at one.
Liberty retook the lead in the bottom of the inning, 3-1. The Owls rally in the top of the seventh put two runners on but the offense was unable to cut into the deficit.
Bennett (6-6) was credited with the loss.
GAME NOTES
>> Bennett made her 115th career appearance in the circle for KSU. She is tied for second with Abbey Mixon in KSU DI history and sixth all-time. Her start tied Logan Viers for fourth in the Owl DI record book at 77 in her career. That mark is seventh all-time.
>> Cates made her 200th career appearance for the Owls. She is the seventh KSU player to reach 200 games played.
>> Cates reached base in her fifth consecutive game with a drawn walk in the top of the sixth.
ON DECK
The Owls return to Bailey Park for a three-game conference series against North Alabama starting with a doubleheader on Friday, Apr. 7 starting at 4:00 p.m.
All three games will be broadcast on the KSU Owl Network and admission is free for all 2023 home KSU softball games.
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.
