March 27, 2007
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State got solid pitching and clutch hitting as the Owls defeated Savannah State, 6-2, before a large, raucous, student-filled crowd on Tuesday evening at Stillwell Stadium.
Kennesaw State (17-9) got on the board with a run in the second inning, three in the third and added two insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to earn their third straight win.
The Owls fell behind early when Savannah State (19-11) got on the board in the top of the first inning. Leadoff hitter, Antonio Richmond, fought off a breaking ball by starter Justin Edwards and poked a single to left center field. After stealing second, Richmond scored when John Keene's grounder to third was misplayed for a 1-0 lead.
Kennesaw State tied up the game in the bottom of the second inning when freshman Clint Roques tripled off the wall in right center field scoring Matt Dallas. The Owls broke open the game with three runs in the third inning.
Ray Redden reached on an error and Jacob Robbins walked. Martin Baker's sacrifice bunt pushed the runners to second and third. Jerome Wooley then singled to right center field to give the Owls a 2-1 lead.
The Owls would add two more runs in the inning when Jace Whitmer continued his hot hitting with a two-run double to right-center field scoring Robbins and Wooley for a 4-1 lead.
Savannah State tightened the margin with an unearned run in the top of the sixth inning and threatened with a bases loaded rally in the fifth inning, but Kyle Clayton got Brandon Javis to fly to left field to end the rally.
Strong pitching was the key for Kennesaw State. Freshman Justin Edwards (1-0), in his first collegiate start, earned his first win. The left-hander, who was on an imposed pitch count, threw three innings and allowed only an unearned run on two hits with four strikeouts.
The Owls staff threw five pitchers on the night and they combined to allow just five hits and no earned runs. Following Edwards, Kyle Clayton threw two and one-third innings of two-hit relief. Ben Sosebee pitched an inning and two-thirds of hitless relief giving way to Kody Paul who threw the eighth inning. Closer Justin Freeman came on and retired the side in order in the ninth.
Kennesaw State broke the game open in the bottom of the third inning when they struck for three runs off Savannah State's Marcus Cortes.
The Owls will be back in action on Friday night when they open up a three-game series with Stetson at Stillwell Stadium. The Owls and the Hatters will play at 6:00 p.m. on Friday and conclude the set with a Saturday afternoon doubleheader beginning at 2:00 p.m.
