March 26, 2014
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State Owls used 12 hits and a big fourth inning en route to an 8-3 victory Wednesday against Georgia Tech at Bailey Park. The Yellow Jackets fell to 19-11 on the season, while the Owls improved to 17-15 overall.
The Jackets and Owls were scoreless until Kennesaw State’s bats warmed up in the fourth inning. The Owls sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs on six hits and two costly Georgia Tech errors.
“We definitely have to be sharper as a team,” head coach Shelly Hoerner said. “We have to go back to the drawing board and go back to the basics. We’ve got to change our mentality as well, and be better all-around and better as a team.”
Tech got on the board in the fifth inning as Ashley Thomas drew a leadoff walk and stole second. She scored on an errant Kennesaw State throw made on a bunt by Hayley Downs. Kanani Cabrales roped a single to right center to plate Downs.
The Owls tacked on another run in the sixth inning and the Jackets did so in the top of the seventh as Cabrales singled in pinch runner Kaitlin Kates from second.
The Jackets used three pitchers in the loss with starter Kylie Kleinschmidt (12-6) as the pitcher of record. She threw 3.2 innings with seven runs, two of them earned, on eight hits and three strikeouts. Cabrales entered the game in the fourth inning, giving up one run on four hits in 1.2 innings of work. Ashley Clifton relieved Cabrales in the sixth, her first action of the 2014 season, and struck out a batter.
Kennesaw State’s Amanda Henderson (14-6) earned the victory. She pitched 3.1 innings of relief and surrendered three runs on two hits with seven strikeouts.
The Jackets are back in action Wednesday, April 2 at Georgia. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
