by David Almeda (Staff Writer)
With a thrilling comeback and a shutout, KSU’s softball team opened its 2014 season by posting a 14-12 win against Middle Tennessee State, followed by a 6-0 loss to No. 6 Alabama at the Troy Subway Invitational on Friday.
In the first contest of the day against Middle Tennessee State, KSU fell into a deep hole early as the Blue Raiders exploded for six runs on five hits in the first inning. The Owls were able to tack on a run of their own in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI double from Courtney Sutter to score Natalie Rhodes.
The Blue Raiders didn’t let up, scoring runs in the second and fourth innings to take a commanding 8-1 lead. Then, in the fourth, the Owls began to rally. Carly Van Auken and
Taylor Denton both singled to start the inning before a groundout moved them over to second and third. A fielder’s choice from Rhodes scored Van Auken and Denton, and the onslaught of Owls runs continued with hits from Sara Sikes, Angie Dascoli and Caitlin Fowler, all followed by an MT error. By the end of the fourth, the Owls had crossed home plate six times to tighten the lead to an 8-7 score.
Middle Tennessee was able to gain some insurance runs in the top of the fifth to secure a more comfortable 11-7 lead. However, in the bottom half of the inning the Owls’ bats lit up again with a Rhodes single that scored Sara Chambers, followed by the Owls’ first home run of the season, a three run shot by Sutter that scored Rhodes and Sikes that tied the game at 11.
That tie was quickly broken in the top of the sixth when the Blue Raiders scored once again to regain a slim 12-11 lead. In the bottom half of the frame, Sutter
came through once again, with an RBI double that scored Chalmers, Chambers and Denton, giving the Owls their first lead. Freshman pitcher Logan Viers kept the MT offense scoreless in the seventh to give KSU its first win of the year, 14-12.
KSU tallied 16 hits while committing two errors. Sutter led the way for the Owls offensively, with three hits and seven RBI. Chambers and Dascoli both added three hits of their own.
Viers pitched two innings, earning her first career win. Paige Matthews tallied 4.1 innings pitched, giving up five runs on five hits while striking out six.
In the second game of the day, senior Amanda Henderson started against SEC powerhouse Alabama. Neither team was able to score until the Crimson Tide took a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning. Alabama broke it open in the sixth with a solo home run and a grand slam to give them a 6-0 lead that would ultimately be the final score. Henderson took the loss, going 5.1 innings while striking out five.
The Owls will continue the Troy Subway Invitational on Saturday, facing Memphis and tournament host Troy.
