By: Michael Pitts
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EL PASO, Texas - Kennesaw State softball fell just short in a back-and-forth battle in its series-opening contest against the UTEP Miners, 9-6, Friday at the Helen of Troy Softball Complex.
KSU (10-38, 1-21 Conference USA) scored the game's first six runs before the resurgent Miners (21-24, 9-13 CUSA) rallied behind a strong sixth inning.
How It Happened
After back-to-back singles from
Hannah Harvey and
Jojo Johnson,
Ava Guzowski ripped a single of her own to single, scoring the first run for KSU in the opening frame. In the next at-bat, a sacrifice fly from
Ana Gore plated Johnson to put Kennesaw State up 2-0 after one.
Harvey opened the third reaching on an error then stole second base with none out. With her on second and
Jojo Johnson on first via a walk, Guzowski stepped up to the dish and delivered a double to left center, making it 4-0 in favor of the Black and Gold. UTEP added three in the bottom of the inning.
Macie Howes led off the fourth with a single then reached to second on a sacrifice bunt by
Madison Miller. With Howes on second, Johnson hit a single to right to plate Howes to extend the advantage to 5-3.
Kennesaw State added their sixth run in the fifth after Howes mashed another RBI single to center to score Lexi Shaver from second. Shaver got into scoring position after stealing second following a one-out walk. UTEP scored two in the bottom of fhe fifth to get back within one, 6-5.
The Miners took a 9-6 advantage in the bottom of the sixth and held on in the seventh to take the series-opening victory.
Quick Hits
- Guzowski has now reached base in each of the last six games. Friday marked her sixth multi-RBI game of 2025.
- Friday also marked Guzowski's 97th career start for Kennesaw State.
- Every Owl that recorded a base hit Friday had a multi-hit game.
- Leah Jannakos got the start in the circle for KSU and struck out six. She has now started 17 games this season.
Up Next
Kennesaw State and UTEP sqaure up for game two Saturday, April 26 at 5:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+.
