By Jack Herman, Staff Writer
Kennesaw State’s softball team extended their win streak to five as the Owls swept their Saturday doubleheader against Florida Gulf Coast University on senior day.
Game one was a battle that saw the Owls (31-14) score four 7th inning runs to tie the game and come back from a 9-5 deficit.
The game was won in the ninth inning when first basemen Megan Veringa launched a walk-off homerun deep over the centerfield wall.
“Nothing surprises me anymore after the game one comeback,” head coach Tory Acheson told KSUOwls.com. “To get the four runs in the seventh to tie it and then to hang on and win it in extra innings like that makes it a very satisfying win.
“Taking care of business and getting the sweep in game two just shows how much grit and determination this team has. We did not play our best, but we did what we needed to do to have a chance to win and then the kids stepped up and made plays and made pitches and got hits when we needed them.”
The Owls were paced offensively by senior Natalie Rhodes who jumpstarted the offense in the lead off role by reaching base four times and scoring three runs. Taylor Denton, Courtney Sutter and Veringa each knocked in a pair of runs, accounting for six of the Owls 11 runs.
For most of the game the Eagles (22-26) were in control. After a huge fifth inning when FGCU’s Brittany McGuire launched a three run homer run and an RBI single from Jeanie Verderese, the Eagles maintained a four run lead until the final inning.
Paige Mathews went eight innings for KSU and allowed 12 hits, six earned runs and struck out three. She was relieved by Monica Vickery who allowed two earned and six hits.
“Paige has really done a nice job of accepting kind of an unusual role for a senior pitcher to be part of a staff and part of contributing along with three other pitchers,” Acheson told KSUOwls.com. “She has done a great of accepting that and a great job with it, so I am very proud of both of them.”
Game two featured less fireworks as the Owls would win 5-3 behind Logan Viers dominant outing. The righty went seven innings, allowing eight hits and three earned runs.
The KSU offense put together a three run inning that featured a two-run single to right field by Sutter which scored Denton and Rhodes. Two batters later Sutter scored the third run of the inning on a wild pitch.
The Eagles fired back in the second with a two-run home run by Chandler Middlebrook. An inning later Kelsey Carpenter tied the game at three for FGCU when she launched a triple to left field, bringing in Makensie Mcavoy.
Designated hitter Hillary Kartman gave the Owls the winning run in the fifth when she scored Sutter after reaching base on an error by the third baseman. Two hitters later with the bases loaded FGCU walked in the fifth and final run of the game.
With the two wins KSU clinched a spot in the Atlantic Sun tournament. The Owls will be in play again this upcoming Tuesday, April 21 in Knoxville, Tennessee against the University of Tennessee.
