JACKSONVILLE, Florida - March 26, 2006 - Keri McKee delivered a two-out single in the top of the ninth inning scoring April Keasler with the games lone run as the Owls downed North Florida in the first game of a doubleheader at UNF Field.

In a classic pitcher's duel and arguably one of the most exciting games of the season, the Owls and the Ospreys were held in check by starters Lisa Lamb and Katie Brosky through five innings. The sixth inning saw each team bring in their closers and both were equally effective, not allowing a hit until Kennesaw State mustered a pair in the ninth inning.

Andrea Moss was again spectacular for KSU (27-12 overall, 4-1 A-Sun), pitching the final four innings without allowing a hit. North Florida's Kelli Pitts was equally as strong until the top of the ninth inning when April Keasler broke the hitless streak with an infield single. After Kelli Cowart laid down a perfect sacrifice and Jen Hunt grounded out, McKee, the Owls leading hitter, came up big once again with a single to center field.

Each team had opportunities to win the game before extra innings, but none bigger than the top of the fifth inning when Kennesaw State got hits by Kelly Cowart and Jen Hunt to lead off the inning. With two outs, Jen Nolan lined a single to center field, but a tremendous throw from UNF's Christina Evans gunned down Cowart at home.

In the bottom of the sixth inning, North Florida (16-16, 1-2) got to Lamb quickly as Evans led off with a double to left center and Kelli Rutenbar followed with a single to center field. It was then that Moss entered the game and she retired the four, five and six batters in order to keep the game scoreless.

Norie Glazebrook and Cowart had two hits to lead a nine-hit Kennesaw State attack while Rutenbar and Gwen Williams each had two hits for North Florida.

In the nightcap, Brittany Matthews tossed a two-hitter and struck out 11 batters as the Owls shutout North Florida, 3-0, to sweep the doubleheader.

Kennesaw State got on the board in the top of the second inning when Glazebrook racked her second double of the day, scoring McKay who had led off the inning with a walk. The Owls took a two-run lead when Nolan, who had singled to left field, scored on a throwing error by third baseman Randylyn Rogers.

Those runs would be all that Matthews (10-3) would need as she recorded her fifth double-digit strikeout performance of the year. The sophomore allowed just four runners to reach base and struck out six of the first seven she faced. In addition to a pair of walks in the second and fifth innings, she surrendered only a single to Rutenbar in the first inning and a double to Ashley Parenteau in the sixth inning.

The Owls added their final run of the game in the third inning when McKee dropped down a perfectly placed squeeze bunt, scoring Cowart who had led off the inning with a triple.

The Owls will head back down to Florida next weekend when they tangle with Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton on Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m.