Feb. 8, 2008
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - Amanda Malcom's solo home run in the fourth inning tied the game and the Owls scored a run in the top of the eight inning on a Jessica Cross ground out as Kennesaw State stopped Tennessee Tech, 2-1, in the Kennesaw State Classic at Bailey Park on Friday afternoon.
Brittany Matthews (2-0) won her second game of the day for the Owls (2-0) as she entered the game in the seventh and pitched out of a mild jam before closing the door on Tennessee Tech in the eighth inning.
Kennesaw State fell behind early as Tennessee Tech (0-1) scored an unearned run in the second inning off starter Jessica Cross. The Owls freshman hurler was effective in her collegiate debut as she pitched five innings of three-hit ball in her first start.
Tennessee Tech got a leadoff single from Kristyn Castonzo (1-for-3) and with one out, Lacie Coquerille (1-for-2) singled but was caught in a rundown between first and second base. An errant throw by KSU second baseman Jamie KeKaualua scored Castonzo for a 1-0 Golden Eagle lead.
Malcom (1-for-2), who drove in a pair of runs in the opener, picked up her third RBI of the season with a two-out, solo home run to left field that tied the game.
The Owls would score the eventual game-winner in the top of the eighth inning. Catherine Rodriguez began the inning on second base via the international tiebreaker rule. Lyndsay McCurry's (0-for-3) sacrifice pushed Rodriguez to third base and after an infield hit by KeKaualua put runners on the corners, Cross (1-for-4) drove in the game-winner on a ground out.
Matthews retired the side in order in the bottom of the eighth inning, getting a pop up and fly out before striking out Amanda Glover to end the game. Matthews struck out three batters in just one and two-thirds innings.
The Owls will conclude the Kennesaw State Classic on Saturday afternoon with games against the Mississippi Rebels at 4:00 p.m. and a contest with Middle Tennessee State at 6:00 p.m. The Owls will be presenting rings to last year's Atlantic Sun Conference champions before the game with Ole Miss.
From the Nest Sophomore speedster Catherine Rodriguez has scored as a pinch-runner in each of the first two games ... only Jamie KeKaualua and Amanda Malcom have hit safely in the first two contests ... Malcom now has six career home runs ... Troy transfer Angela Lopez made her KSU debut, pitching 1.1 innings of scoreless relief ... Brittany Matthews struck out 21 batters and won two games on Friday.
