Feb. 24, 2007
Final Stats
Birmingham, Al. - The Owls came out swinging to clinch an 18-0 win in game two of a three-game series Saturday at Joe Lee Griffin Field in Birmingham. The Owls put runs on the board early scoring two in the first and seven in the third. The Bulldogs of Samford were unable to get a rally going in a shut out by the Owls.
Kennesaw State (3-4) scored two runs in the first inning with singles from Matt Dallas and Jace Whitmer. With one out, Jerome Wooley singled to left field and then advanced to second when Bulldog pitcher Eric Lassiter threw past first base on a pick-off attempt. Dallas then singled up the middle plating Wooley. The second run of the inning came when Whitmer singled to left field to score Dallas. The inning ended when Brady Vaughn grounded into a double play, making the score 2-0.
Just like the Owls' bats, starter Micah Sales (1-1) was hot as well, going two innings retiring the side three up, three down. Sales went on to pitch five scoreless innings while giving up three hits and striking out one before being relieved by Matt Eckardt in the sixth inning. Eckardt went on to pitch two scoreless innings, giving up only one hit and striking out two. Jamie Spear pitched an inning of relief in the eighth inning giving up only one hit. Closer, Kody Paul pitched an inning in the ninth and only gave up one hit and three out three.
The Owls scored seven runs in the top of the third extending their lead 9-0. The inning began when Adam Cross laid down a bunt for a base hit moving Matt Dallas, who reached on a fielder's choice, to second. An error by the Bulldogs' first baseman advanced Cross to second and plated Dallas. An RBI single to left field by Vaughn plated Cross. A single to left center by Clint Roques and two walks from Andrew Martin and Tyler Stubblefield loaded the bases for an RBI double from Wooley making the score 9-0.
The Owls had another hot inning in the top of the fifth where the Owls pounded out five hits and scored five runs. The hits started with Martin Baker leading off with a single to right field who then advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a groundout to second base by Wooley. A sacrifice fly to center by Matt Dallas plated Baker. Adam Cross doubled to right center followed and was brought home on a RBI single from Whitmer. The last two runs of the inning came when Andrew Martin hit a two-run single to center field scoring Brady Vaughn who reached on a single and Clint Roques who reached on a hit by pitch, extending the Owls lead to 14-0. The Owls bats did not stop with a fourteen run lead. Four more runs were scored in the eighth and ninth innings, making the final score 18-0
The Bulldogs were never able to get anything going despite having six hits and having runners on base in six of nine innings. Micah Sales (1-1) picked up the win for the Owls while Bulldogs pitcher Eric Lassiter (0-1) suffered the loss.
The Owls and the Bulldogs will meet up Sunday afternoon at Joe Lee Griffin Field for game three. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 CST.
