By: KSU Sports Information
Box Scores:
Miami (Ohio) Austin Peay
KSU Classic Home
WOODSTOCK, Ga. – Pitching, with a healthy dose of offense, was the name of the game on Sunday, as the Kennesaw State Owls swept the second day of the KSU Classic at Twin Creeks Softball Complex, defeating the Miami (Ohio) Red Hawks 2-0 before wiping out the Austin Peay Lady Govs, 9-0, in five innings. They end their first weekend of the 2012 season at 3-0.
The Owls (3-0) got back-to-back complete game shutout from Jessica Cross and Abbey Mixon, respectively, as the duo combined to allow just five hits on the day. Sharon Swanson hit a grand slam in the second inning against Austin Peay (1-3) to start the Owls process of pulling away, while a Kaylee Williams RBI single and Lindsay Vollmer home run would provide all the run production the Black and Gold would need in the opener on Sunday.
“Our pitching and defense definitely carried the day for us, the way Jessica and Abbey were able to get outs when we needed them, and the fact that we committed just two errors today, but all-in-all, this was a team effort this weekend in every aspect of the game,” Owls head coach Scott Whitlock said. “Everyone on the field, at the plate and in the dugout did what they needed to do to help us win, and I’m very proud of that.”
Playing for the second straight day in windy conditions with temperatures that were south of 40 degrees, the Owls took advantage of Cross’ solid pitching against Miami (3-1) while they worked to get their offense going. After giving up a double to start off the game, Cross would retire the next 10 batters, and would not allow a runner get into scoring position again until the sixth inning.
In the interim, the Black and Gold jumped out to a, 1-0, lead in the when Bianca Durant laced a pitch into the corner down the right field line and slid into third base for a one-out triple, and would score one batter later when Williams drove a pitch into center field for the first run of the game.
It would turn out to be the only run the Owls would need, but Vollmer provided some insurance in the bottom of the fifth, when she led off the inning by slamming an offering over the center field fence for her first home run of the season and second as an Owl.
The Red Hawks only real threat came in the top of the sixth, when a bunt single followed by a fielding error would put the tying runs on second third with two outs, but Cross would get Casey Drees to foul out and end the inning. The frame could have potentially been a big one for Miami, as Kylie McChesney led things off with a hard shot to center field, but it was played deftly near the wall by Owls center fielder Jensen Hackett, who threw a laser to second base where Natalie Rhodes was waiting to apply the tag and retire McChesney.
The rout was on from the get-go in the second game. Playing as the road team against Austin Peay, Rhodes and Cross would single in the first inning to set the table for Swanson, who doubled to drive in Rhodes. Swanson would score later in the inning when, with the bases loaded and two outs, Vollmer would manage an infield single to drive in the second run of the game.
It would be Swanson’s third-career grand slam in the next inning that would put the game firmly in control of the Owls. After loading up the bases without getting the ball out of the infield, thanks to two Lady Govs errors and a bunt single by Carly Van Auken, Cross would walk to drive in Hackett, setting the stage for Swanson, who crushed a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence to make it 7-0.
Kennesaw State would put the game in run-rule territory two innings later, when a Durant single drove in Kierra Koln, who was pinch-running for Cross and made her Owls debut on Sunday. Cross would notch an RBI single in the fifth for the Owls ninth run of the game.
All the while, Mixon was in the driver’s seat in the pitcher’s circle, striking out nine while allowing just two hits and walking none. The only Austin Peay player to get past first base was Kristin Whitmire, who reached on an error.
The Owls go on the road for the first time this coming week, when they play five games in the College of Charleston Tournament, Feb. 17-18. They take on Marshall, Charleston Southern, hosts College of Charleston, Morehead State and Akron during the two day event.
KSU Classic: Final Standings
Kennesaw State: 3-0
Miami (Ohio): 3-1
Southern Illinois: 2-1
Austin Peay: 1-3
Mercer: 0-4
All Tournament Team
Jessica Cross, Kennesaw State
Meredith Wilson, Southern Illinois
Allie Larrabee, Miami (Ohio)
Haley Gorman, Southern Illinois
Tiffany Phillips, Mercer
Lauren DeCastro, Austin Peay
Taylor Orsburn, Southern Illinois
Sharon Swanson, Kennesaw State
Brittney Lang, Southern Illinois
Amanda Henderson, Kennesaw State
Abbey Mixon, Kennesaw State
Jessica Simpson, Miami (Ohio)
