Thursday, April 17, 2008

KENNESAW, Ga. - It was a recording setting afternoon on Wednesday as the Kennesaw State softball team swept an important Atlantic Sun Conference doubleheader from in-state foe, Mercer, at Bailey Park. The Owls took game one, 3-1, before shutting out the Bears, 3-0, in the nightcap.

The Owls (31-15, 9-7 A-Sun) secured the 1,000th and 1,001st career wins for head coach Scott Whitlock. The Black and Gold's skipper is now 1001-186 in his 23rd year at the helm of the KSU program.

But that wasn't the only milestone reached on the day, as senior pitcher Brittany Matthews set a new single season mark for strikeouts to stand atop the KSU record books with 254. The record-setting sit-down came in the final inning of game two, propelling Matthews to her fifth save of the season and yet another record in the illustrious career of the Brooks, Ga., native.

KSU struggled through the first two innings of game one, unable to put anything together against Mercer pitcher Jenni Holtz (12-6). But the third inning was another story as the Owls seven batters to the plate in the frame.

Hollie Huffman led off the inning with a double down the right field line and scored on the next play as Sarah Hesterman doubled to the center field fence to put KSU ahead, 1-0. After loading the bases with a failed fielder's choice attempt and an intentional walk, Hesterman ran home on a wild pitch for the Owls' second run of the game. Amanda Malcom followed with a sacrifice bunt to allow Lyndsay McCurry to push the Black and Gold's third and final run across the plate.