March 24, 2008

KENNESAW, Ga. - Fresh off a split with USC Upstate to start Atlantic Sun Conference play, the Kennesaw State softball team returns home to host a doubleheader with the University of Albany on Tuesday afternoon. First pitch from Bailey Park is set for 2:00 p.m. and live statistics will be available for both games on www.ksuowls.com.

Both games against Upstate turned out to be great pitching duels as the two teams' pitchers combined for 27 total strikeouts and just three total earned runs allowed.

Two fourth-inning errors were the Owls (22-8, 1-1 A-Sun) undoing in game one. Leading 1-0 after freshman Jessica Cross drove in her team-high 24 RBI with a bases loaded single in the top of the third, Kennesaw State allowed the lead-off batter to single through the right side. Shay Slater followed by reaching first and then advancing to second after Cross' throw across the field was uncatchable by first baseman, Jacki Warren, to put two runners in scoring position. Heidi Gibbs notched her second hit of the contest with a single to score Brasil and tie the game at 1-1.

The Spartans' offensive leader then put her speed to use as she took off for second. Owls' sophomore catcher Jenna Closner threw to gun down Gibbs but her rocket was too high, going into centerfield and bringing home Slater for what ended up being the winning run.

Closner redeemed herself in the nightcap after hitting her fourth homer of the season to lead off the seventh inning to propel the Owls to a 2-1 win and a split with the pesky Spartans. Brittany Matthews picked up the win in relief after striking out three to record the final eights outs for the Owls.

Senior shortstop Amanda Malcom has paced the Black and Gold offense in last few games and brings a five-game hit streak into Tuesday's doubleheader. After a bit of a slump about a month ago, the Greshamville, Ga., native has raised her batting average 47 points and now leads the Owls, hitting at a .333 clip.

UAlbany (6-8) comes to KSU after competing in the University of Georgia Spring Fling this past weekend in Athens, dropping all five games in the three-day event after being out-scored 26-7.

The Great Danes lost twice to UGA and another three games to Kent State, including a 4-0 shut-out on Sunday afternoon. Michelle Connors and Megan Butsch recorded the only two hits for UAlbany and pitcher Leah McIntosh fell to 4-3 on the season after allowing four earned runs on four hits in 4.2 innings of work.

Senior outfielder Amber Maisonet leads the UAlbany offense, batting .415 with three doubles, a triple and eight stolen bases. Sophomore Bailey Van Deest has also been stellar at the plate, as she is just behind Maisonet with a .414 average. McIntosh has been the Great Danes best pitcher thus far, recording a 2.08 earned run average with a team-high 58 strikeouts.

After their showdown with UAlbany, the Owls will host a pair of A-Sun doubleheaders this weekend, beginning with Jacksonville on Friday afternoon, before playing North Florida on Sunday.