The Kennesaw State softball team played four games last week, opening with a home loss to Georgia Tech on Wednesday, April 10, before visiting Stetson over the weekend, dropping one game before winning twice.
KSU combined for just five hits against the Yellow Jackets in a 7-0 loss, as stranded baserunners doomed the Owls. In the third inning, KSU loaded the bases but chances were thwarted by a difficult catch from Georgia Tech’s third baseman on a looping hit.
Later on, another chance was presented for the Owls after a double with only one out but runs continued to elude the team all game. Former KSU player Tricia Awald scored two runs for the Yellow Jackets.
The Owls traveled to Florida to play Stetson for a three-game weekend series, dropping the first game 1-0 on Saturday. Senior pitcher Hailey Andrews gave up just the one run in six innings but did not get any offensive support for her performance.
Senior Maddie Roth had two hits in the game, but scoring opportunities were few and far between in a game dominated by strong pitching.
Later that day, KSU rebounded with a 3-2 victory that saw a last-inning comeback by the Owls. Redshirt junior Hannah Thomason scored twice in the game, helped by two stolen bases that got her into a scoring position.
In the first inning, Thomason drew a walk before stealing second base, scoring after senior Kira Czyrklis hit a single up the middle.
With the Owls trailing 2-1 in the final inning, Thomason reached on an error to drive in a run before scoring the game-winning run on an RBI single by Christen Florence.
Freshman Katie Greep led the way with two hits in the win while Andrews continued to find success on the mound, throwing a complete game and giving up one run.
On Sunday, Greep was in the middle of the action again as she helped KSU to a 2-0 victory. She added two more hits to her growing collection while being responsible for both runs scored in the game.
After scoring on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, Greep doubled in the seventh inning to drive in the final run of the game.
Andrews won her 16th game of the season with a complete game shutout while lowering her earned run average to 2.02 for the season — good for sixth in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
On Monday, April 15, Andrews was named as the ASUN Pitcher of the Week for the second time in the past three weeks. She completed 20 innings against Stetson over the weekend and now has 185 strikeouts this season.
The Owls will come back home this week to play four games beginning on Wednesday, April 17, against Georgia State before hosting a three-game series against North Alabama.
For the game against Georgia State, KSU’s Student Government Association is hosting a Registered Student Association leadership day with free food and giveaways.
