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BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Macie Howes tied Courtney Sutter for the most runners caught stealing (35) in program history as Kennesaw State softball fell 7-2 to Western Kentucky. The feat becomes more impressive for Howes as she did it in three seasons at KSU while Sutter played five years in the Black and Gold.
Ana Gore recorded her fifth sacrifice fly of the season, placing her as the joint leader in the category among CUSA players.
How It Happened
The hosts struck in the bottom first with a two-out single. The next two Hilltoppers got on but Leah Jannakos struck out the final batter to strand the bases loaded.
After Ava Guzowski tallied KSU's first hit in the third, her and Ava Brooke Strickland were in scoring position with only one out. Unfortunately, the Owls lined out and flew out in their next two plate appearances.
With two additional runs in the second, the Hilltoppers scored once again in the bottom of the third. Three more in the fourth made it 7-0.
The Black and Gold got on the board in the sixth. Strickland led off the inning with a single then Hannah Harvey hit an opposite-field double to score the senior. Gore hit her second sac fly in as many games to give KSU two runs for the inning.
Notes from the Diamond
- Macie Howes threw out Jenna Blanton in the fourth inning, becoming the second player in program history (Courtney Sutter, 2013-17) to have 35 runners caught stealing as an Owl. Howes has gunned down 12 potential base stealers this season, only trailing FIU's Isabella Perez (13) among CUSA players.
- Ana Gore tallied her fifth sacrifice fly in this afternoon's contest. She's tied with WKU's Annie White for the most in CUSA and is one of 32 players in all of DI with 5+ sac flies.
- Olivia Tyson threw 4.0 innings of relief today. It's her longest outing this season and it's the most innings she's thrown in a single game since her complete game against Morehead State back on Feb. 15, 2025.
- Howes is currently riding a five-game hitting streak.
- Hannah Harvey has gotten a hit in each of her last eight conference games.
On Deck
The Black and Gold will head back to Bailey Park for their final series of the regular season against Liberty. Game one is scheduled for Thursday at 5 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
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