FORT MYERS, Fla. – A slew of runs in extra innings rocketed the Owls (16-36) past FGCU (32-19) in both games Friday afternoon in Fort Myers, Fla.
 
The Owls are now in the driver's seat after today's wins in an attempt to reach the single elimination ASUN Championship round. They have sole possession of eighth place with Austin Peay one game behind, leaving tomorrow's game versus FGCU a "win and in" scenario.
 
Game One (W, 4-2)
A large portion of the game offensively can be explained in the sixth inning as Kennesaw State took the reins. After collecting just one hit in the first five innings, Kennesaw State popped off for two runs to take their first lead of the game in the sixth. 
 
With one out, Stella Henry slashed a single through the middle of the defense. That single was followed up by a Kassidy Amerson-Fox infield hit, handing over the baton to Ava Guzowski. Guzowski took a five pitch walk to load the bases for Macie Howes. Howes fell behind 0-2 in the count but fought back to a 3-2 tally. She sliced a pitch up and away in the zone into right field to score two runs for the Owls.
 
The Eagles evened the score in the bottom of the sixth at 2-2 via the error from the Owl defense.
 
In extra innings, Amerson-Fox scorched one to left field for a single, but the ball was mishandled and made its way to the outfield wall. Amerson-Fox came all the way around to score regaining the lead at 3-2 in the eighth inning. They would then score yet again on a throwing error from the pitcher to allow Guzowski to cross, securing a 4-2 advantage. The final score would hold at 4-2 in favor of the Owls.
 
Game Two (W, 7-3)
In the bottom of the first inning, Kenley Hilleary worked herself out of the first jam of the game. She allowed runners on second and third with no outs but secured back-to-back punchouts and a groundout to cut down the threat.
 
In the fourth inning, Howes led off the inning with a double down the right field line off a pitch in the upper half of the zone. After being advanced to third base, Madison Miller slashed a single through the infield. The infield was playing in on the dirt as Miller gave the Owls the first lead of the day, 1-0.
 
It didn't take long for the Owls to pile it on as they snagged a 2-0 lead in the fifth inning. Following a Ty Hardeman single, Henry launched a ball over the head of the left fielder for an RBI triple to lift the Owls to a two-run lead. It was Henry's third hit of the day between both games.
 
For the third consecutive inning, Kennesaw State tallied a run as they added yet another in the sixth. With two outs, Miller scored an infield single hit toward the shortstop. She then stole second base, remaining perfect on the year (12-12) to get into scoring position. Resse Evans then laced a single toward shortstop with the throw not in time at first base. That allowed enough time for Miller to book it from second base to home taking the 3-0 lead.
 
In the seventh inning, FGCU collected three runs on five hits to send it into extra innings for the second straight game. It's the first time this year the Owls have played back to back extra innings contests.
 
To start the top of the eighth inning, Hannah Harvey reached second base on the throwing error toward first base. Miller then moved the pinch runner, Alex Russo, over to third with the sacrifice bunt. An Evans infield single set the table for Caroline Shumeyko to collect her first hit of the day.
 
Shumeyko dribbled the ball through the middle of the defense off the end of the bat to take the lead 4-3. Shumeyko's single was just the start of an avalanche of runs in the eighth inning.
 
Ty Hardeman then singled into the shallow outfield, loading the bases for KSU. Henry then earned her fourth hit of the day, scoring one run and swapping stations with the Owl runners.
 
On a 0-1 count, Amerson Fox hammered a base knock off the glove of the FGCU third baseman. The play scored two runs thanks to a deflection that directed the ball toward the edge of the grass in the infield. The Owls tallied four runs in the eighth inning and batted around in an inning for the second time in the last six games.
 
Spotlight Performances
Game One: It's the Owls' first win since game three in the North Alabama series
Game One: It was one of Kyte's most thorough performance of the year with eight complete innings with no earned runs allowed; Eight innings marks a career high for the fifth year
Game One: Amerson-Fox earned her first two-hit performance since March 30 Vs. Jacksonville
 
Game Two: Henry accrued her second four-hit game of the season and of her career
Game Two: Ty Hardeman secured her first three hit ball game since April 3, 2022 versus Lipscomb
Game Two: Five Owls had a multi-hit game, the most Owls to do so in a single game this season
Game Two: Lindsey Kyte stepped in in the seventh inning and earned her second win of the day
Game Two: KSU hit .350 with runners in scoring position (7-20)
Game Two: With the pair of wins, Tripp MacKay has now secured 10 career extra inning victories

On Deck
The Owls are still searching for a playoff berth as they turn around at 1 p.m. Saturday for the ASUN regular season finale versus FGCU.

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.