NEWBERRY, S.C. - Now that we've seen them, we understand why Kennesaw State is #1 in all NCAA Division II.

They win.  They score runs, sometimes in bunches, but 94.7% of the time, enough to win.  Being 54-3 on the season is impossible without run production when it counts.

The Owls came to town fresh off two wins over North Greenville where they outscored the opposition 27-0.  Both games ended prior to seven innings due to softball's eight-run mercy rule, and certainly NGC's Crusaders weren't lobbying for any relaxation of the rules in that regard.

If games with common opponents mean anything, then Newberry should have had plenty to worry about:  the Lady Indians dropped a pair in Tigerville to North Greenville less than three weeks ago by a total of six runs.

Judging by the final outcome, they weren't scared.  Newberry played sound defense, and never gave up the big inning to Kennesaw State in either game.  The only problem was that KSU plays defense too.  It wins championships, as the adage goes, and the Owls may be on their way to their eighth regional championship in ten years.  Twice KSU won national titles since 1995.

Today's matchup at Newberry's softball complex was a portrait of two teams: one that has all the pieces in place, and another that just may not be too far away.  Kennesaw State pitchers Lisa Macki (Lolo, Mont.) and Tara Hrycuik (Saskatoon, Sasketchewan) brought their best stuff and shut out Newberry, 1-0 and 5-0, in Saturday's college action.

The visitors were not impressive in their first chance at defense.  The Owls committed a pair of errors in the first inning of game one, allowing leadoff hitter Jessica Jackson (Batesburg, S.C.) to advance as far as third before escaping danger.  Kennesaw State let two more aboard on errors, and Brantley Riley's (Saluda, S.C.) fourth-inning looper to left was all that separated Macki (16-1) from a no-hitter.  Singles by Lori Cassell (McDonough, Ga.) and Amy Middleton (Columbus, Ga.) set the stage for Cambria McKay's (Brampton, Ont.) sacrifice fly to right, plating Cassell for the game's only run.

Amy Burnsworth (Jonesboro, Ga.) got the start and the loss for Newberry, surrendering the lone run.  Kayce McLeod (Newberry, S.C.) threw three scoreless innings, and then started the nightcap, throwing 3 1/3 innings and allowing two runs for the loss.

KSU scored once in the second, fourth, and sixth, but then nailed the coffin with two seventh-inning runs.  Middleton double's, the third hit of the frame, scored both runs and presented Newberry with a five-run hole from which to dig.  Riley was only the fifth Indian all day to reach scoring position, reaching on an error, then moving around to third via groundouts.  Hyrycuik (17-1) had help preserving the shutout, as right fielder Kate Winstel (Snellville, Ga.) collected Julie Wideman's batted ball and fired successfully to first to end the game.

Newberry returns to conference play Wednesday, traveling to Presbyterian for a 3 p.m. contest.