By: by Scott Lipsky
I SIU Box Score I BSU Box Score I
WOODSTOCK, Ga.- The Kennesaw State Owls battled against two quality teams on Saturday, but were unable to muster the offense necessary to build on Friday’s success despite solid pitching performances, falling to Southern Illinois, 4-0, and Ball State, 1-0, on the second day of the Phyliss Rafter Memorial at Twin Creeks Softball Complex in Woodstock, Ga.
After scoring 22 runs in their two games on Friday, the Owls (4-2) had just six hits combined on Saturday. The efforts of Jessica Cross and Abbey Meixel, the starting pitchers for the second straight day. Were foiled by brilliant performances by their counterparts, Brittney Lang of Southern Illinois (7-2) and Elizabeth Milian of Ball State (2-2), who both tossed complete game shutouts.
The Owls had a chance to take the lead early in their first game, against SIU, when they had runners on first and second after Karlie Gillam reached on an error with two outs. Nothing materialized, making it the first of three innings in which they left two runners on base against SIU.
SIU took a 1-0 lead in the third inning on a two out double by Chelsea Held, and it was all the offense they needed. They would tack on two insurance runs in the fourth inning and one more in the sixth. Cross pitched five innings, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out three before she gave way to Amanda Burns in the sixth inning.
Abbey Meixel put together a third consecutive solid pitching performance in the second game against Ball State, allowing just one run on seven hits in six innings of work on an RBI single in the second inning. She unfortunately had to be credited with the loss, after a hard-fought game in which the Owls consistently fouled pitches off of Milian and forced her to throw over 130 pitches.
Klair Wells walked with one out in the seventh inning to put the tying run on base, before Lyndsay McCurry pinch ran for her and stole second to put her scoring position with two outs. Karlie Gillam flew out to left to end the game and the Owls’ opportunity to even the score.
“Today is a tough day, you never want to lose, but we definitely fought,” said Owls head coach Scott Whitlock. “If the offense isn’t there, it’s going to be very tough to win ballgames. It’s good that we can come out tomorrow and play hard and try to have a better day.”
Senior Kelsey Kulk provided a bright spot for the Owls offense, going 2-for-3 against Southern Illinois and 1-for-3 against Ball State.
The Owls will conclude the Phyliss Rafter Memorial on Sunday when they take on Tennessee Tech at 1 p.m. You can find updates on the event throughout the day by visiting the Phyliss Rafter Memorial page here.
