March 21, 2007
Box Score
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. - Freshman Klair Wells hit an RBI-single in the top of the sixth inning to break open a 2-2 tie as the Owls defeated ETSU, 6-2, to get head coach Scott Whitlock his 800th fast-pitch win on Wednesday afternoon at Metro-Kiwanis Park.
Kennesaw State (27-11, 1-1 A-Sun) earned a split of the doubleheader with the Buccaneers as they evened their conference record and in the process gave their legendary head coach his 800th fast-pitch victory.
With one-out in the top of the sixth inning, April Keasler (1-for-4) doubled to right-center field and moved to third on a wild pitch. After Hollie Huffman (1-for-4) grounded out, Wells came through with a base hit, giving KSU a 3-2 lead.
A three-run seventh inning sealed the win for the Owls. Keri McKee (2-for-3) led off the inning with an opposite field double. Jennifer Nolan (1-for-3) walked and Megan Gant (0-for-2) followed with a sacrifice to put runners on second and third. Jamie KeKaualua (0-for-4) followed with an infield grounder that scored Catherine Rodriguez, who pinch ran for McKee. Kelley Cowart (3-for-4) followed with a double, scoring Nolan and KeKaualua.
The Owls jumped out to an early lead when McKee singled to score Wells. The Owls freshman second baseman, led off the game with a base hit and had three of the Owls 11 hits.
However, the Kennesaw State lead was short-lived. After scoring their two runs on home runs in the opener, ETSU got their third home run of the day when Jessica Hackworth (1-for-3) homered to center field off Missy Hobdy.
The teams exchanged solo runs in the fifth inning. Jennifer Nolan homered for the third time in four games when she ripped a two-out home run to center field. The Buccaneers (11-15, 1-1 A-Sun) answered when Cope singled up the middle with one-out and ended up at second base after an error by April Keasler. After Hobdy was relieved by Janet Kearns, the hero of the first game, Stephanie Gaynord (1-for-4), doubled to tie the game.
Kearns won the game in relief with two and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief. The Owls senior scattered just three hits as she raised her record to 4-3 on the season.
Kennesaw State will continue its road trip on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader against Gardner-Webb. First-pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. in Boling Springs, N.C.
