LOUISVILLE, KY. – Kennesaw State softball (18-30, 9-11 ASUN Conference) won a defensive showdown 2-0 against the Bellarmine Knights (4-41, 1-19 ASUN) Saturday.
Starter
Kenley Hilleary (7-9) threw four innings of work allowing only one hit and zero earned runs while striking out eight of the 16 batters she faced.
Taylor Cates proved to be the difference with a two-run blast in the fourth, scoring the only runs of the game from either side.
The two teams were hitless through the first three frames but Cates and
Stella Henry drew walks to put runners on-base for KSU. Henry's walk extended her reached-base streak to a 2023 team-high 14 games dating back to Apr. 2
After
Madison Miller drew a walk to start the fourth, Cates launched a homer to put the Owls up 2-0. The home run moved Cates into fourth on the KSU Division I career runs scored list at 114.
Bellarmine had bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth but were unable to cross home after a clutch strikeout from Hilleary. She struck out the side in the frame.
Lindsey Kyte entered in relief in the fifth and allowed only two hits to seal the win for Kennesaw State.
The Owls tallied only two hits in the contest and marked their first win with three hits or less since May 11, 2016 vs. Lipscomb. Saturday's game was the first win with three hits or less in the
Tripp MacKay era (since 2019).
KSU earned the series victory, its first road ASUN series win this season.
ON DECK
The final road game of the 2023 regular season for the Owls is set for Sunday, Apr. 30 at 12:00 p.m. in the series finale against the Bellarmine Knights.
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.
