Feb. 25, 2007
Box Score
BIRMINGHAM , Ala. - The Owls used a six-run eighth inning to come-from-behind and defeat Samford, 14-12, to win the three-game series with the Bulldogs on Sunday afternoon.
Trailing by two runs, the Owls (4-4) rallied in the top of the eighth inning when Adam Cross (2-for-5) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. A walk to freshman Jace Whitmer (2-for-4) was followed by a pair of Samford errors which tied the game.
An error by the Bulldogs third baseman, Bill Whitehead, pulled the Owls to within a run and then a miscue by shortstop Michael Marseco tied the game.
Kennesaw State would pull ahead when Jerome Wooley (2-for-5) doubled to center field with the bases loaded, giving the Owls a 13-10 lead. Matt Dallas (3-for-5) doubled down the left field line for a 14-10 advantage.
Justin Freeman (1-1) pitched the final 2.1 innings for the Owls and picked up the win even though he allowed single runs in both the eighth and ninth innings.
Freshman Kyle Heckathorn started and was given a 7-1 lead by the Owls, but the hard-throwing right-hander ran into some trouble in the middle innings.
Leading, 8-3, heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, the Bulldogs rallied for a pair of runs. Chad Jenkins relieved Heckathorn in the sixth and stayed in the game until back-to-back singles in the seventh inning brought in Casey Rogers.
Rogers walked the first batter he faced and the surrendered a grand slam to Garrett Rice (1-for-4) and the Owls found themselves trailing by two runs.
Cross hit his second home run of the season, a two-run blast to left field to get the Owls on the board first. They would add three runs in the second and two runs in the third to build an early lead.
The Owls will be back in action on Tuesday afternoon when they host Jacksonville State at 5:00 p.m.
