CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Indiana State drops its season opener to Kennesaw State, 9-7 in its first game of the Chattanooga Challenge.
Kennesaw State got on the board first in the bottom of the third inning. Indiana State committed an error, allowing Faith Alexander to reach base and move to third on the play. Brea Dickey doubled down the left field line driving in the first run of the game. Lexi Solorzano singled giving the Owls an early 2-0 lead.
The Sycamores answered in the top of the fourth.
Bella Peterson and
Mallory Marsicek hit back-to-back singles and
TeAnn Bringle reached on an error to load the bases.
Grace Hunger's pinch hit single to right field pulled the Sycamores within a run.
Leslie Sims legged out an infield single to tie the game at two runs apiece.
Amanda Guercio started a rally in the top of the fifth hitting her tenth career home run.
Bella Peterson scored on a wild pitch, and
TeAnn Bringle scored while
Olivia Patton reached on a fielder's choice, giving the Sycamores a 5-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, Kennesaw State strung two hits together to get a run back, but
Arielle Blankenship came in and shut the door with a strikeout to help maintain the 5-3 Sycamores lead.
Amanda Guercio hit her second home run of the game with a two-run bomb, giving the Sycamores a 7-3 lead in the top of the sixth.
Kennesaw State used a six-run sixth inning to earn the 9-7 win.
Arielle Blankenship (0-1) was charged with the loss throwing a third of an inning allowing five runs (four earned) on three hits with two walks and one strikeout.
Lexi Benko got the start for the Sycamores throwing 4.2 innings, allowing three runs (one earned) on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
Peyton Ottersbach allowed one run (earned) on one hit with one walk in 1.0 inning.
Lindsey Kyte (1-0) was credited with the win allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits with three walks and four strikeouts throwing 4.1 innings. Melanie Bennett picked up her first save of the year throwing 1.0 inning allowing no runs on one hit with one walk and two strikeouts.
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