KENNESAW, Ga. – A thorough performance from the Owls (12-29) lifted them to a 3-0 decision over the Knights (13-23) Saturday afternoon at Bailey Park.
 
For the second straight game, Kiera Cooper garnered the first hit of the day for KSU as she roped one through the left side in the second inning.
 
In the fourth, Madison lofted a double into the right center gap to start the inning. The next pitch, Ava Guzowski placed a sacrifice bunt that was fielded by the pitcher as that brought up Cooper. Cooper blooped a perfectly placed ball into shallow center to bring Miller home for the first run of the day.
 
To start the fifth inning, Reese Evans took a four pitch walk to find first base. She was then sent to second from the sacrifice bunt from Caroline Shumeyko. That set the table for Stella Henry to lift a double right behind the shortstop's head to go up 2-0. It marked the first double of Henry's season.
 
In the top of the sixth, a leadoff triple from the Knights began the inning. Afterwards, two impressive defensive plays were made by Guzowski to hinder the runner at third. That opened the door for Bennett to hold off the run with a fly out to Cooper to end the threat.
 
Starting with a walk to Macie howes in the home half of the sixth, Hannah Harvey knocked in her first collegiate double as it coasted over the center fielder's head. It brought home the third run for KSU and marked her first career extra base hit and RBI.
 
It's the Owls' first back-to-back wins since defeating Stetson in the first ASUN series of the year.
 
For the second straight day, the lineup included Hannah Harvey as she made her collegiate debut last night with the start at DP.
 
Spotlight Performances
Melanie Bennett shined yet again as she slayed five Knights on punchouts in her complete game shutout
 
Bennetts has now tossed back-to-back complete games totaling four on the season and 63 in her career, the most in program history
 
In 14 innings, the Owl's pitching staff has allowed only one run on five hits; It's the lowest allowed run and hit total over any two game span this season
 
KSU scored exclusively on extra base hits on the afternoon
 
 
On Deck
It's back to the grindstone as they face Bellarmine in the final game of the series Sunday at 1 p.m. in search of the series sweep.
 
Admission is free to all Kennesaw State softball home games in 2024.
 
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