April 25, 2007
Box Score
MACON, Ga. - Jennifer Nolan's grand slam powered a five-run second inning as Kennesaw State beat Mercer, 7-1, in game one of a doubleheader on Wednesday night at Sikes Field.
KSU (40-17, 14-3 Atlantic Sun Conference) jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Kelley Cowart reached base on a walk. April Keasler then drove in the Owls righ fielder for her 35th RBI of the season.
Mercer (11-41, 4-9) had a chance to respond in bottom half of the inning when Holly Oglesbee led off the frame with a single to center field. After Kelly Bretscher flew out to left, Jaime Madruga reached on a fielder's choice and then stole second. Kristin Talamantes and Ashley Anderson each drew walks to load the bases for the Bears.
But then the Owls ace, Brittany Matthews settled in and got C.J. Martin to fly out to end the inning and the threat.
The second inning saw the Owls do the most damage to the Bears. Norie Glazebrook led off the inning with a fly out, followed by Megan Gant being hit by a pitch. Amanda Malcom reached base on a fielder's choice and then stole second, followed by a Klair Wells and a Cowart single to left which scored Malcom to put KSU up 2-0.
Leading hitter Keri McKee strolled to the plate looking to hit paydirt, but instead drew the intentional walk to load the bases. After falling behind 1-2, Nolan found her pitch, crushing it deep over the left field wall to give the Owls a 6-0 lead.
The Bears scored their lone run in the bottom half of the second when Bretscher's single scored Crystal Condra.
KSU added another run in the sixth when Malcom scored on a sacrifice fly by McKee.
Matthews (21-4) well stellar in the circle as she stifled the Mercer bats, allowing just five hits while striking out four to pick up her 16th complete game win of the season. Stephanie Rossman (5-15) suffered the loss after surrendering six earned runs and three hits in two innings of work.
With the win, the Owls clinched at least a share of the A-Sun regular season title and can win the championship out-right with a sweep of the Bears in the second game of the doubleheader later tonight.
