March 10, 2007
Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Kennesaw State took advantage of four Birmingham Southern errors in a five-run fourth inning as the Owls run-ruled the host Panthers, 9-0, at the 2007 Russell Athletic Panther Spring Classic on Saturday evening.
The Owls (20-10) won their second straight game and got all of their offense from four players, Keri McKee, Jennifer Nolan, April Keasler and Klair Wells. The middle of Kennesaw State's lineup had a day reminiscent of the 1927 New York Yankees Murderer's Row lineup as the four went a combined 10-for-12 with five RBI, three extra-base hits and eight runs scored.
Kennesaw State got on the board early when Nolan (3-for-3) tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Keasler (1-for-3) in the top of the second inning.
A five-run fourth inning put the game out of reach for the Owls as they capitalized on four Birmingham Southern (6-15) errors. McKee (2-for-3) led off the disastrous inning for the Panthers with an opposite field double and Nolan drove her home with a single for a two-run lead.
On third base after left fielder Blaes Schmissrauter misplayed her hit for the first error of the inning, Nolan scored on an infield hit by Keasler. Wells (3-for-3) singled and Megan Gant reached on an the second error to load the bases. Then, error number three, a miscue by third baseman DiAmond Jordan put Amanda Malcom on base.
The fielding woes continued for Birmingham Southern as a wild pitch scored Wells and a an errant throw by catcher Danielle Honore' scored Gant for a 6-0 KSU lead. Four consecutive hits by the Owls 3-4-5-6 hitters in the fifth inning helped produce three runs to round out the scoring.
Brittany Matthews (9-2) was once again solid as she pitched a five-inning, complete game, three-hitter with seven strikeouts, including striking out the side in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game.
