Kennesaw State Softball Sweeps Samford

The Kennesaw State Owls got into the swing of things on Tuesday evening, scoring 22 runs in a doubleheader in which they swept Samford, 13-1 and 9-3.
The Owls (18-12) made quick work of the Bulldogs (7-27) in the first game, scoring runs in each inning on their way to a five-inning, run-rule, win. After taking advantage of some erratic Samford pitching early on, as they scored two runs in the first inning on a hit batsman and a walk, the bats really started to get going for the Black and Gold. Sharon Swanson, the Owls leader in batting average at .400, hit a single through the middle in the top of the second inning to drive in Bianca Durant and make it 3-1. They would begin to put the game away with a three-run third inning, sparked by a bases loaded, bases-clearing double by Durant with two outs.

Kennesaw State would continue to pile on in the fourth and fifth innings, scoring four and three runs, respectively, on the back of a pair of home runs by Jessica Cross, giving her seven for the season.

The Bulldogs would keep the Owls at bay for the first part of the second game, taking a scoreless tie into the top of the fourth inning before the Kennesaw State offense erupted once again. Ashlee Burkett and Sharon Swanson would lead off the frame with back-to-back solo home runs, and freshman Stephanie Phillips would step to the plate four batters later and bash a double to center field, driving in Cross to make it 3-0 Owls and giving Phillips her first career RBI.

Swanson was 7-for-8 over the course of the two games, driving in four runs. Cross was 5-for-7, her two home runs producing all five of RBI on the evening.

Wednesday evening’s scheduled doubleheader against UAB at Bailey Park has been postponed due to impending inclement weather. The Owls will host a pair of Atlantic Sun Conference doubleheaders this weekend, taking on Stetson at 1 p.m. at Bailey Park and Florida Gulf Coast at 1 p.m. on Sunday.