KENNESAW, Ga. – The combination of solid pitching and clutch hitting provided the formula for success as the Kennesaw State softball team opened its 2017 season with a pair of victories during day one of the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament Friday (Feb. 10) at Bailey Park.
Senior right hander
Logan Viers' complete game one-hitter highlighted the Owls' 4-0 victory over Saint Louis in the opener before seniors
Courtney Sutter and
Chandler Griffin, redshirt freshman
Katey Lynch and junior
Noelle Winkles all homered during a 14-0, five-inning win over South Carolina State (0-2).
"I thought the pitching did really well today. They threw strikes, got ahead, moved the ball around, and did not have a lot of walks, so it was a good day for them," first-year head coach
Pete D'Amour said. "The hitters adjusted well. They started out slow, but stuck to what our approach is, and started hitting the ball pretty well.
"Overall, I was pleased with the energy. They talked a lot on defense, the bench was talking intelligently, so I was pleased for the first day," D'Amour added.
Against Saint Louis, Viers (1-0) was in command from the outset as she held the Billikens (1-1) hitless through the first four innings before surrendering a two-out fifth inning single, and finished with a career-high 10 strikeouts.
The Owls did all their scoring in the bottom of the fourth inning, producing four hits, including an RBI single by freshman
Kelli McGrail in her first collegiate at-bat.
Redshirt freshman
Alley Cutting made her first career start against South Carolina State in the nightcap, and earned the victory after working three innings, allowing one hit, walking two and striking out seven.
Offensively, the Owls twice batted around, scoring four runs in the first inning and five in the fourth. Kennesaw State hammered out 16 hits, including two each from
Hannah Thomason,
Taylor Denton,
Katey Lynch, and Winkles.
"The freshmen stepped up. Kelli had two hits, Andrea (Summey) came up and smoked one, and Beth (McCulley) had a good at-bat. They all had good at-bats," D'Amour said. "They were nervous, I just tried to calm them down, and I was pleased with how they played."
Freshman
Danielle Rubin also made her collegiate debut in relief of Cutting and struck out three in two hitless innings.
The Phyllis Rafter Memorial Tournament continues on Saturday (Feb. 11) with the Owls taking on Austin Peay at 3 p.m. and Morehead State at 5:30 p.m. Admission to Bailey Park is free.
To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State softball news follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsSB or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.
-#GoKSUOwls-
