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KENNESAW, Ga. – Senior Morgan Sikes pitched three effective innings of relief and junior catcher Courtney Sutter produced a clutch two-out hit to lead Kennesaw State to a 2-1 victory over Western Michigan in the opening game of the Dr. Bobbie Bailey Memorial Tournament Friday at Bailey Park.
 
Sutter broke a 1-1 tie with a single to right field that drove in Taylor Denton with the go-ahead run in the bottom of the fifth and Sikes (3-0) worked out of a one-out bases loaded jam in the sixth inning before pitching a perfect seventh inning to help the Owls improve to 7-1 on the season.
 
Sikes came up with the big pitch after a visit from head coach Tory Acheson as she induced Courtney Sleeman to hit a comebacker that was turned into a pitcher-to-catcher-to-first base double play.
 
"One of Morgan's greatest strengths is she's one the better fielding pitchers I've ever seen. So when the ball got hit to her I thought we had a chance to get the double play," Acheson said. "I went out there right before the play and we just talked about what our possibilities were and to see it all come together that perfectly was a pretty cool thing."
 
In three innings in the circle, Sikes surrendered four hits and struck out two after relieving Viers, who pitched four-plus innings, allowed four hits and struck out four.
 
Viers held the Broncos (1-5) scoreless until allowing a leadoff home run and single to open the fifth inning. Sikes yielded a hit to the first batter she faced before setting down the next three batters.
 
The Owls scored an unearned run in the second inning on an infield out to the right side by junior Chandler Griffin that plated pinch runner Hannah Thomason who entered the game after Hillary Kartman's one-out infield single.
 
Shortstop Missy Perkowski led the Kennesaw State offense as she collected two of the Owls five hits.
 
"Obviously, our pitching was outstanding. Logan and Morgan threw another amazing game. Those two have continually kept us in games and given us a chance to win," Acheson said. "I really want our offense to kick it in gear a little bit more. We're missing way too many opportunities. It was efficient enough to get us a couple runs in but we're leaving a lot of runners in scoring position and I think that is going to bite us if we don't fix that at some point in time. But, it was another hard-fought tough win and we'll take the win and hopefully we can learn some valuable lessons from it and build on it for tomorrow (Saturday)."
 
The Dr. Bobbie Bailey Memorial Tournament continues on Saturday with a full slate of games beginning at 10 a.m. (ET). Kennesaw State will face UT Martin at 12:30 p.m. before closing out the day against Alabama A&M beginning at 5:30 p.m.
 
NOTES:
* Courtney Sutter extended her hitting streak to eight game as she has now hit safely in every game this season.
* With its 2-1 win on Friday, Kennesaw State has allowed two or fewer runs in seven of its eight game and has lowered its team ERA to 1.75.
* After earning the win against Western Michigan, Morgan Sikes improved to 3-0 on the season and tied Logan Viers for the team lead in victories.
* With two hits on Friday, Missy Perkowski recorded her third multiple hit game of the season to lead the team. 

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