Feb. 27, 2008
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KENNESAW, Ga.--A single to left center by Ric Bishop in the bottom of the ninth inning brought home Jacob Robbins with the game-winning run as Kennesaw State rallied to defeat Stetson, 7-6, in game two of an Atlantic Sun Conference doubleheader at Stillwell Stadium on Wednesday evening. Stetson won the first game, 4-1.
The two teams traded runs in each of the first two innings of game two. Stetson (2-3, 1-1 A-Sun) scored in the first on a single to left while KSU (3-3, 1-1 A-Sun) answered with a sacrifice fly by Jace Whitmer to score Robbins and tie the game at a run a piece.
Stetson came back with two in the top of the second on a two-out triple by Jeremy Cruz. The Owls tied the game again in the bottom of the inning as Tyler Stubblefield hit into a fielder's choice with the bases loaded to score Josh Whitaker. Robbins then singled through the left side, plating Andrew Martin to tie the game at 3-all.
The Owls forged a lead in the third as Whitaker singled into left, scoring Jace Whitmer from third to give KSU a 4-3 lead.
Stetson scored a pair in the top of the fifth on a two-run homer by Robert Crews, giving the Hatters a 5-4 lead. Again, KSU would respond as Jay Morrow connected on a 2-1 offering from Andy Mauldin to put the Owls up, 6-5.
Stetson would tie the game in the seventh on a homer by Aaron Crittenden. Thanks to the Owls defense, the score remained the same until the bottom of the ninth. Stetson nearly scored in the top of the inning on a chopper back up the middle, but a diving stop by Curtis Van Wyck resulted in a force out at second, preserving the tie.
That set the stage for Bishop's heroics in the ninth. After Robbins led off the inning with a triple, the junior was bunted over to third by Van Wyck. With the infield and outfield drawn in, Bishop was able to poke a 2-0 offering from Ian Thompson into left center, scoring Robbins to give the Owls a split.
Justin Freeman (1-0) earned the win for KSU with three shutout innings of relief. Freeman allowed one hit and struck out four for the Owls.
Nick Bohne (0-1) took the loss for Stetson. Bohne went two innings and gave up two hits and one run.
The Hatters used a strong pitching performance in game one by starting hurler Blake Marsocci to earn a 4-1 win over the Owls. Marsocci went 6.2 innings, allowing just one hit and one unearned run.
Marsocci (1-1) did not give up a hit until Bishop's one-out single in the sixth. The Black and Gold were still able to put a run on the scoreboard before that point.
Trailing 1-0, Robbins walked with one out in the third. After a wild pitch and a ground out moved Robbins into scoring position, a grounder by Bishop was mishandled at first base by Cruz, allowing Robbins to come home with what would prove to be KSU's only run of the game.
Stetson scored the tie-breaking run in the fifth thanks to a KSU fielding error with two outs in the inning. The Hatters added a pair of insurance runs in the eighth when, after loading the bases, Justin Bass and Josh Clendenin each lifted sacrifice flies to bring in runs.
Chad Jenkins (1-1) took the loss for the Owls, giving up two runs (one earned) in six innings of work.
The two teams will meet again tomorrow in the rubber game of the series. First pitch at Stillwell Stadium is set for 1:00 p.m.
