March 17, 2007
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - A pair of bases loaded walks in the bottom of the ninth gave Kennesaw State a 4-3 win over the University of Alabama at Birmingham on Saturday afternoon at Stillwell Stadium.
Kennesaw State's comeback began with a lead-off walk to Jacob Robbins. The Owls hot-hitting shortstop also extended his hitting streak to 35 games with a second inning single. Martin Baker was hit by a pitch and after Jerome Wooley's successful sacrifice bunt, UAB pitcher Dustin Colburn intentionally walked Jace Whitmer.
Matt Dallas, who had a two-run single in yesterday's game, went down looking on three pitches for the second out of the inning. Jay Morrow then worked out a game-tying base on balls before freshman Clint Roques also walked to end the game, giving the Owls (13-8) a split of the first two games of the series.
Kyle Muschara (3-0) was perfect out of the bullpen for the Owls. The right-hander retired all 10 batters he faced as he won his third decision of the season.
Trailing 3-2, Muschara entered the game in the top of the sixth inning in relief of starter Micah Sales and got the Owls out of a second and third jam by striking out Jonathan Merritt. In all, Muschara threw three and one-third innings of scoreless relief to lower his ERA to 1.08.
Kennesaw State jumped out to an early lead after manufacturing a run in the bottom of the first. A lead-off walk to Robbins, an error and a stolen base led to a Baker sacrifice fly, quickly putting the Owls ahead 1-0.
The Owls scratched another run across in the bottom of the second inning when Andrew Martin brought Morrow in from third base with a ground out to second base.
UAB starter Shay Crawford (1-1) allowed two runs on three hits in two innings before giving way to reliever Brandon Wallace in the third inning. Wallace shut down the Owls, keeping KSU scoreless for five innings before giving way to Colburn.
The Blazers answered in the top of the third inning with two runs on two hits and took the lead in the top of the fourth after a J.R Bond infield single and a Danny Sawyer walk led to a Brint Hardy RBI single.
The Owls again rallied with two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, but came up short as they left the bases loaded for a second time. Kennesaw State would leave 13 runners on base in the game.
Kennesaw State and UAB will play the rubber game of their three-game series on Sunday afternoon with Kyle Heckathorn (2-0) toeing the rubber for the Owls. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. est.
