April 21, 2007
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KENNESAW, Ga. - Brittany Matthews pitched a two-hit shutout and Keri McKee had three hits to lead Kennesaw State to a, 4-0, win over North Florida in the first game of a Senior Day doubleheader at Bailey Park on Saturday.
Kennesaw State (38-17, 12-3 A-Sun) won its third straight game and pushed their home winning streak to eight games as Matthews notched her 19th win of the season with her ninth shutout.
After an emotional pregame ceremony and facing the strong pitching of North Florida's Devyn Findlay, the Owls didn't get on the board until the third inning when Kelley Cowart's RBI-single scored pinch-runner Catherine Rodriguez for a 1-0 lead.
"With all the emotions of the day it was good to get on the board first," said senior Jennifer Nolan.
The Owls would add their second run in the following inning when Megan Gant, who began the third inning rally with a leadoff walk, drew a two-out base on balls. Amanda Malcom, who had two hits in the game, doubled to the gap in left center field, scoring Gant and giving the Owls a two-run advantage.
The two runs were more than enough support for Matthews as the junior cruised through the first five innings. The southpaw suffered only a second inning hiccup when she pitched into a bases loaded jam before getting Kelly Rutenbar to popup and then striking out Mallory Butler.
Matthews got into another bases loaded jam in the top of the sixth inning when two walks and a hit filled the bases with two outs. But, once again Matthews pitched herself out the jam by getting Heather Hyde to fly out, keeping the shutout in tact.
The Owls would added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning when seniors Gant and McKee delivered RBI singles to give KSU a four-run cushion.
