Kennesaw State Rallies To Turn Back Bears

Wednesday, March 13

Kennesaw, Ga.

7 p.m.

Mercer University

9-12

Kennesaw State

7-17

Mercer

Kennesaw State

3/13/2024 9:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score

By: Todd Anderson, anderson_t02@mercer.edu

KENNESAW – An ill-timed error to start the fifth inning opened the door for a quartet of team unearned runs for home-standing Kennesaw State as the Owls rallied all the way back from a 2-run deficit to top visiting Mercer, 6-4, on Wednesday evening at Bailey Park.

The Bears (9-12) have now dropped four-straight matchups in the series with their in-state nemesis, despite possessing the lead in three of those four outings. Kennesaw State (7-17) snapped a four-game losing streak with the result, while also improving to 17-0 all-time against MU at Bailey Park.

Gabby Ellis (1-3) allowed three earned runs on four hits in 1-2/3 innings of relief to take the loss for MU. Starter Grace Roark allowed just a lone earned run in 4-1/3 innings pitched from the circle, but was not awarded a decision.

GAME SUMMARY
FINAL	Kennesaw State 6, Mercer 4
PITCHERS	WP: Melanie Bennett (2-6) LP: Gabby Ellis (1-3)
RECORDS	Mercer (9-12); Kennesaw State (7-17)

KEY INNINGS
TOP 4	KSU starter Lyndsey Kyte registered two-straight outs to start the frame, but back-to-back doubles from Taylor Rogers and Mariyah Sanchez moments later evened up the score at one run apiece. Three-straight walks, as well as a passed ball, pushed three more runs across the plate to give MU a 3-1 advantage.
BOT 5	Stella Henry reached on a costly error to lead off the frame, and that opened the door to four runs by the Owls that gave them the lead for good. Kiera Cooper and Reese Evans hit run-scoring 2-out doubles to extend the rally for the hosts.

MU LEADERS	KSU LEADERS
Taylor Rogers 2-3, 2B, R Tori Hedgecock 1-2, 2 BB, HR, 2 RBI Mariyah Sanchez 1-3, 2B, RBI Janessa Plummer 1-3, BB	Kiera Cooper 1-2, BB, 2B, 2 RBI Kassidy Amerson-Fox 2-3, BB, 2 RBI Ava Guzowski 2-3, BB, RBI Melanie Bennett 3.1 IP, ER, 3 K

UP NEXT
Mercer will close out a 13-game stretch away from home on Friday and Saturday when it treks to Gainesville, Fla., for a pair of neutral site outings against Indiana, as well as a road matchup against the 10^th-ranked Florida Gators.

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