Sunday, February 27, 2011

WOODSTOCK, Ga. – The Kennesaw State Owls had a successful second day as hosts of the Third Annual Phyllis Rafter Memorial, downing the Mississippi State Bulldogs, 3-2, before quickly turning around and defeating the Bowling Green Falcons, 3-1 at Twin Creeks Softball Complex.

“I thought our pitchers did a great job today, and it was great to see Sharon Swanson and Brittany Moore hit the way that they did,” Owls head coach Scott Whitlock said. “These are two solid wins for us.”

Sophomore Sharon Swanson was at it again for the Owls (9-4) all afternoon, as the A-Sun leader in RBIs added to her total in game one, and it couldn’t have come at a better moment. Trailing Mississippi State (6-8), 1-0, with two outs in the bottom of the third inning, Swanson, who played many of her prep softball games at the very same facility, lifted a 2-2 pitch over the fence for her fifth round-tripper of the season to give the Black and Gold a lead they would not relinquish.

The Owls would add an insurance run against the Bulldogs in the very next inning, and once again, their offense was generated via the long ball. Third baseman Brittany Moore worked a full count against pitcher Kylie Vry before launching her first home run of the season to left field, giving the Owls all of the offense they would need.

A-Sun Preseason Player of the Year, junior Jessica Cross impressively maneuvered her way through the Bulldogs’ lineup, tossing her fourth complete game of the season while allowing just two earned runs on six hits, striking out six, to move to 5-1 for the season.