The KSU softball team dropped two straight games by one run this weekend to Robert Morris and St. Louis, evening the weekend record at 2-2.
“Obviously, a 2-2 weekend is not exactly what we were looking for,” said head coach Scott Whitlock. “We played very well on Friday, and fought and came back in both games today before falling short.”
KSU started the weekend off on the right foot, earning blowout victories against Alabama State and Bradley, winning 11-0 and 10-1, respectively.
Heading into Saturday’s game, the Owls owned an impressive 8-1 record, with the only blemish being a double-header loss to Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
In the first tournament hosted by KSU, in Woodstock on Feb. 11 and 12, the Owls defeated in-state rival Mercer, 6-1, before earning shutout victories over Miami (OH) and Austin Peay.
Five days later, KSU won two straight games against Marshall and Charleston Southern at the College of Charleston Classic. KSU took three of four games in the series.
Things were looking good against Robert Morris on Saturday morning, as the Owls took a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Bianca Durant hit a double, bringing home Sharon Swanson. Durant would come home off a double-steal.
Natalie Rhodes then batted home Kaylee Williams. At that point the Owls were on a 23-1 scoring streak, and another win seemed to be at hand.
However, KSU’s starting pitcher Abbey Mixon would allow an RBI and a two-run homerun in the bottom of the third. Mixon was pulled in favor of Jessica Cross.
The Owls would not start fast against St. Louis, falling into a 4-0 deficit. In the final inning, KSU tried to stage a comeback. A sacrifice fly by Swanson would put the score at 4-2 with just one out remaining.
Carly Van Auken would then score on a single from Durant, bringing the Owls within one run.
Amanda Henderson pitched a full game, despite the loss, with zero earned runs.
The Owls fill face UAB tonight at 4 p.m. in Birmingham, AL., before heading back to Woodstock for the Georgia Tech Buzz Classic, where they will face Tennessee-Martin, Elon, Western Kentucky, Alabama State, and Tennessee Tech.
