April 14, 2007
Final Stats
GALLERY
KENNESAW, Ga. - Kennesaw State broke open a tie game with solo runs in the seventh and eight innings to defeat North Florida, 4-2, in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Stillwell Stadium.
The win snapped Kennesaw State's six-game conference losing streak and also ended a four-game slide against the rival Ospreys.
Bubba Blalock (1-4) was once again superb in relief as he shut down North Florida over the final three innings to earn his first win of the season.
After twice battling back from one-run deficits, Kennesaw State (19-15, 3-7 A-Sun) took the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh inning when Martin Baker walked with the bases-loaded, scoring Matt Dallas.
Kennesaw State added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth inning when Andrew Martin cracked a two-out double off the wall in right-center field scoring Jerome Wooley.
Blalock allowed just two hits in his outing with one coming to lead off the ninth inning. An infield hit by Brian Wilson and subsequent throwing error gave UNF a runner in scoring position with nobody out. But, Blalock retired the next three hitters in a row to give the Owls their third conference win of the year.
The Ospreys (15-22, 6-7 A-Sun) put up the game's first run in the top of the second inning. With one out, T.J. Thompson singled and stole second base. Travis Martin walked before James Belyea advanced the runners to second and third with a groundout.
Kennesaw State starter Kyle Heckathorn (3-1) looked poised to get out of the inning, but Wilson topped a ball that Heckathorn let roll down towards the foul line. The ball, however, hugged the line and stayed fair as Thompson scored.
The Owls answered back in the bottom of the third when catcher Ray Redden led things off by fighting through a seven-pitch at bat to earn a walk. Tyler Stubblefield laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Redden. One out later, Martin Baker continued his hot streak, singling up the middle to tie the game.
A sacrifice fly gave UNF a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth inning, but Kennesaw State answered in the bottom of the frame on a Jacob Robbins RBI single.
Heckathorn pitched six solid innings, allowing two runs on six hits. The right-hander struck out six and walked three in a no-decision. Brad Johnson suffered his fifth loss of the year, allowing three runs in six and two-thirds innings.
