Eagle Softball's Side Goes 5-7 in Two Games at KSU
4/20/2010 11:10:00 PM | Softball
KENNESAW, Ga. - The Georgia Southern Softball team split a non-conference double-header at Kennesaw State Tuesday (April 20), taking game one 8-6, before falling 2-1 in game two.
Senior Jenny Side (Loganville, Ga.) went 4-for-4 in the first game against the Owls, including a two-RBI single in the top of the seventh inning. Two batters later, Hanna Ennis (Snellville, Ga.) hit a two-RBI single through the left side of the infield to push the lead to 8-5.
The Owls put a scare into the Eagles, loading the bases and scoring a run in the bottom of the seventh, but Megen Smith came on in relief, allowing just one hit, an RBI-single, before retiring the final three batters for her first save of the season. Kaitlynn Szczepanski (Chesapeake, Va.) improved to 2-1, earning the win in relief of Brianna Streetmon (Winder Ga.). The freshman worked one inning, allowing two runs, one earned.
The Eagles struck first in game one with a solo home run by sophomore catcher Mackenzie Williams (Baxley, Ga.) down the leftfield line in the top of the third inning. The Owls answered with a two-run home run by Kelsey Kulk in the bottom of the fourth.
Georgia Southern took the lead right back, plating a pair of runs in the top of the fifth when Nina Iduate reached on a throwing error by Owl third-baseman Karlie Gillam, allowing Hanna Ennis and Williams to score.
After the Owls tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth, Smith singled and scored on an error, giving the Eagles a 4-3 lead in the top of the sixth. Kennesaw State scored two in the bottom half before the Eagles exploded for four runs in the top of the seventh for the win.
Jessica Cross (13-8) was charged with the loss for the Owls, allowing eight runs, two earned, on nine hits with five strikeouts and three walks.
In the second game, the Owls scored first in the bottom of the first inning. The Eagles tied the game in the top of the third with an RBI-single by Smith. Kennesaw State scored what proved to be the winning run in the bottom of the third with an RBI-double by Cross, taking a 2-1 advantage.
Smith (5-12) was charged with the loss, allowing two runs on six hits with three strikeouts in six innings. Abbey Meixel (9-8) earned the win for the Owls, allowing one run on five hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in seven innings.
Side was 5-for-7 on the day, driving in two runs and scoring one, and Smith finished 2-for-6 with an RBI and two runs scored. Williams went 2-for-3 with three walks and a home run.
The Eagles return Saturday to host College of Charleston. The first game of Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. That game can be heard, locally, on 91.9 FM, The Buzz, with announcers Daniel Sallerson and Drew Cheshire. Live Stats will be available on www.GeorgiaSouthernEagles.com in the schedule tab at the bottom of the homepage. Fans may also follow the score, posted every half inning, via Twitter at www.twitter.com/GSScores.
