March 4, 2007
Box Score
STATESBORO, Ga. - Kennesaw State scored all of their runs in the third inning and hung on for a 7-4 victory to record the season sweep of Georgia Southern on Saturday afternoon in the finale of the GSU Eagle Invitational.
Kennesaw State (7-6) put the leadoff runner on in each of the first three innings. In the third the Owls were finally able to take advantage, thanks in part to three walks and a hit batter.
Andrew Martin led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch from Georgia Southern (11-7) starter John Ducey. Matt Hopkins doubled down the left field line to score Martin. Ducey walked the next two batters in Ray Redden and Martin Baker to load the bases. Matt Dallas followed with two-run single for an early 3-0 lead.
Ducey struck out Adam Cross on a called third strike, but after a four pitch walk to Jay Morrow, Jace Whitmer cleared the bases with a double into the right field gap, just out of the reach of a diving Mike Economos.
Zack Upton singled to put runners on the corners. Martin batted again and dropped down a safety squeeze bunt, which allowed Whitmer to score and cap the seven run frame.
The Eagles plated two runs in the fourth and another in the sixth to cut the lead to 7-3 and then made things interesting in the bottom of the ninth as the normally sure-handed Justin Freeman struggled to close out the game. He led off the inning by hitting Jeremy Beckham, before committing an error and a balk to put Beckham at third.
Beckham scored on a ground out to cut the lead to 7-4 and then GSU recorded two singles to bring the tying run to the plate. Coach Mike Sansing went to the bullpen and brought in freshman Kody Paul who needed just one pitch to record his first career save as he got Griffin Benedict to foul out to end the game.
Owls starter Kyle Heckathorn was effective as he picked up his first win of the season after going five innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs, while striking out five GSU batters. Ducey suffered the loss as he fell to 2-2 on the year.
KSU will be back in action on Wednesday night when the Owls travel to Athens to take on the Georgia Bulldogs. First-pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Foley Field.
