Feb. 8, 2008
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - Opening Day 2008 at Bailey Park was "Brittany Matthews Day" as the Owls hurler not only set the career-record for strikeouts, but she also set a new KSU single-game mark with 18 strikeouts as the Owls blanked Georgetown, 4-0, on Friday afternoon.
The Owls senior, who entered the game just seven strikeouts away from the Kennesaw State career-mark of 613, tied Lisa Macki's record in the third inning when she struck out the side. The lefthander struck out the side four times in the game.
She broke the record in dramatic fashion as the Hoyas loaded the bases in the fourth inning with nobody out. Matthews (1-0) then roared back and struck out Suria Bahadue for the record-breaking strikeout before mowing down the next two batters to get out of the inning.
Kennesaw State gave Matthews a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when first baseman Jacki Warren (1-for-3) tripled to right field to lead off the inning. Kelsey Kulk (2-for-4) followed with a first-pitch single to center field.
The Owls (1-0) would blow open the game with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. Lyndsay McCurry (1-for-1) led off with a walk, Jamie KeKaualua (1-for-4) singled through the left side and Jessica Cross (0-for-4) reached on an error to load the bases with nobody out.
Kulk then followed with her second hit and RBI of the game as she singled to left field for a 2-0 KSU lead. Senior shortstop Amanda Malcom (1-for-4) then singled through the left side driving KeKaualua and pinch-runner Catherine Rodriguez for a 4-0 lead.
Meanwhile, Matthews was cruising along. The Brooks, Ga. native allowed just two hits, leadoff singles in the fourth inning by Demetria Cipriano and in the fifth inning by Katie Zoch. She retired the final nine batters of the game, eight of them by strikeout as KSU won its third straight season opener.
From the Nest Freshman Jordan Hackett had two hits in the game as KSU rookies had three of the Owls eight hits ... Matthews is the second player in school history to have over 600 strikeouts for her career as she joins Lisa Macki, who played for KSU from 2001-2004 ... Lyndsay McCurry had two stolen bases for the Owls.
