Kennesaw State Clips Softball in Extra Innings

Sunday, February 24

Charleston, S.C.

4:00 PM

NC State

6-8

Kennesaw State

10-3

Kennesaw State

NC State

2/24/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

CHARLESTON, S.C. Kennesaw State used two runs in the top of the eighth inning to slide past NC State, 4-3, on Sunday, Feb. 24, at the College of Charleston’s Cougar Classic. Alyssa Ishibashi had three hits for the red and white, while Alyssa Allbritten and Ashleigh Davis both added two.

The loss sends the Pack to 6-8 on the year, while the Owls climb to 10-3. Lindsay Campana (2-6) tossed the complete game for State, collecting eight k’s and allowing two earned runs. Brittany Matthews (7-1) got the win for KSU.

“I think we are gradually getting better and everyone is starting to come around,” said head coach Lisa Navas. “We came out on the short end of the stick against Kennesaw State, but it’s left a fire in the players going into a special doubleheader at home on Wednesday and a challenging weekend at the Leadoff Classic in Columbus.”

Allbritten mashed the first home run of her young career to put State up 2-0 in the bottom of the first. Davis beat out an infield single with one out, and Allbritten followed by clocking a Matthews pitch over the wall in center.

The Owls nearly brought in a run in the top of the second, but a heads-up defensive play by Lauren Peters kept them off of the scoreboard. Amanda Malcom walked and moved to second when Kelsey Kulk grounded out to third. Laura Stallings then laced a two-out single up the middle, but Peters was able to keep the ball from rolling into the outfield and fired a throw to Allbritten behind the plate, who tagged Malcom out to end the inning

Kennesaw State’s Jessica Cross crushed a solo shot over the fence in right-center on a full count in the top of the fourth, trimming State’s lead to 2-1.

The Owls knotted the score at 2-all with four hits in the top of the fifth. Cross struck again with the bases loaded and two outs, knocking an RBI single through the left side.

Kennesaw State had another scoring opportunity on its hands in the top of the sixth, with runners on first and second and two outs. But Campana caught Corri Connally looking to exit undamaged.

The Pack immediately found itself in trouble once the game reached extra innings. The Owls put runners on the corners with one out in the top of the eighth, but Stallings popped up to Peters and State was just one out away from escaping. Jenna Closner, however, singled through the left side to give Kennesaw State its first lead of the evening at 3-2.

The Owls added another run when Hackett sent a grounder to second that was bobbled.

Allbritten was placed at second to begin the bottom of the eighth for the Pack, and Presnell drew a leadoff walk. After Warren caught Lacey Holm’s bunt attempt mid-air, Ishibashi singled to load the bases with one out. Kristine Bechtholdt then drew a walk, which shrank Kennesaw State’s lead to 4-3.

But Peters fouled out behind the plate, Blair Harkey lined out to left, and the door was shut on the game.

State will return to the field in Raleigh this coming Wednesday, Feb. 27. The Pack will host the grand opening of it’s own facility, the Curtis & Jacqueline Dail Softball Stadium, with two games against UNC Greensboro. Action is slated for 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Admission is free and parking will be available near the stadium. Fans are encouraged to attend and look for signage directing patrons to available parking areas.