Feb. 27, 2008
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. - Amanda Malcom scored two runs and drove in two more while Brittany Matthews struck out 16 batters to help Kennesaw State down Jacksonville State, 5-3, on Wednesday afternoon at University Field.
Matthews (8-1) was dominant in the circle yet again, as the senior went the distance for her seventh complete game of the season. The southpaw from Brooks, Ga. gave up three runs on four hits while walking three Jacksonville State (7-6) batters and throwing 122 pitches.
In what had been scheduled to be a doubleheader, but was later changed to a single game due to cold and blistery conditions, the Owls (11-4) jumped to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning when Lyndsay McCurry drew a bases-loaded walk to plate the game's first run.
After Jacki Warren strikeout led off the frame, Malcom connected on the first of her two hits with an infield single. Kelsey Kulk followed with a single to right to put two on. Jenna Closner drew a two out walk to load the bases and then McCurry took a full-count pitch from Melissa Dowling (3-4) to put the Owls ahead.
Malcom came up big again in the third when her double to right center drove in Jessica Cross and Warren to stretch the lead to 3-0. A Kulk single through the left side followed to end Dowling's day and then Laura Stallings drove in KSU's fourth run when her single through the right side scored Malcom.
The Gamecocks cut the lead in half in the bottom half of the inning by tagging Matthews for two earned runs. Rachel Fleming started the frame with a single and then stole second. Chrissy O'Neal went down looking for the first out, but Mary Beth Ledbetter smacked a shot over the left field wall immediately after to bring the score to 4-2.
Nikki Prier cut the Owls' advantage to one, 4-3, when she also took a Matthews offering out of the park in the home half of the sixth. After allowing her second long ball of the afternoon, the Owls pitcher settled down the rest of the way, striking out four of the final six batters.
Kulk added an insurance run in the final inning when her third double of the game scored pinch runner Catherine Rodriguez.
The Owls continue their 18-game roadtrip when they travel to the Georgia State Spring Showdown this weekend at Bob Heck Field. KSU will face Evansville and Western Carolina on Saturday before playing the host Panthers on Sunday.
