by David Almeda
KSU’s softball team wrapped up its slate of games at the Troy Subway Invitational on Saturday, posting a 4-3 extra inning win against Memphis and a 5-0 loss to tournament host Troy.
The matchup against Memphis was scoreless in the first three and a half frames. In the bottom of the fourth the Tigers scored the first run of the contest with an RBI single.
In the fifth inning, the Owls (2-2) tied it when Kara Chambers reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Natalie Rhodes. Memphis took the lead an inning later, however, with an RBI single to the pitcher.
Down 2-1 in the last inning of regulation, sophomore Megan Veringa came through for the Owls, knocking a two run home run to give them their first lead of the game at 3-2. KSU couldn’t keep Memphis scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, as Memphis rallied to tie the game with a single to left field, sending the game into extra innings.
With the game in extras, Sara Sikes was placed on second base due to the international tiebreaker rule. Angie Dascoli executed a sacrifice bunt, moving Sikes over to third base. Two batters later, a single to shortstop from Alexis Collis scored Sikes, giving the Owls a 4-3 lead heading into the bottom of the frame.
Senior Amanda Henderson sealed the win for KSU, striking out two in the eighth.
The Owls recorded 11 hits, with Collis and Missy Perkowski tallying three hits each. Junior Paige Matthews started the game, striking out six over four innings. Henderson earned her first win of the season, striking out five over two innings pitched while allowing one run on two hits.
Henderson continued to pitch well in the second game of the day, against Troy. Starting the game for the Owls, she pitched four scoreless innings, striking out eight. The game was very much a pitching duel for the first five innings. However, with a scoreless tie in the bottom of the sixth, the Trojans loaded the bases before a home run gave them a 4-0 lead.
An inning later, Troy scored once again with a solo home run to give them a 5-0 lead and eventually, the win.
Paige Matthews took the loss, posting 1.1 innings of work.
The Owls will host the Phyllis Rafter Invitational at the Twin Creeks Softball Complex in Woodstock on Feb. 14-16.
