March 1, 2008
Box Score
DOTHAN, Ala.--A day after its biggest loss of the season, Kennesaw State came close but fell, 4-3, to Penn State on Saturday morning at the Screentech Wiregrass Classic.
The Owls (4-5) matched the Nittany Lions run for run in the first inning. After a two-run homer by Landon Nakata, KSU responded with two of its own. With two men on, Drew Fowlkes singled through the right side of the infield. Ric Bishop scored easily, but Fowlkes got caught in a rundown between first and second. With Fowlkes trapped between bases, Andrew Martin raced home with the second run of the inning for the Black and Gold, tying the score at 2-all.
Miscues in the fifth stymied KSU's efforts to win the game. A single and a throwing error put runners on second and third for the Nittany Lions. PSU scored a run thanks to a sacrifice fly. One batter later, KSU uncorked a wild pitch to allow the second run to score, making it 4-2.
The Owls threatened to tie in the seventh but could only get one run across. Jerome Wooley was hit by a pitch and Jacob Robbins walked on four straight pitches to give the Owls two men on with one out. One wild pitch later, the Owls had two men in scoring position.
Curtis Van Wyck was due up next. The shortstop grounded out to second, allowing Wooley to score to cut the deficit to one. With the tying run on third, the threat was ended when Bishop flew out to end the inning.
The Owls got men on in the eighth and the ninth inning, but KSU couldn't punch the run home.
Justin Freeman (1-1) was the hard luck loser for KSU. Freeman went seven innings and allowed four runs (three earned). The hurler gave up five hits and no walks while striking out seven. Kenny Faulk and Wes Tignor combined to pitch two scoreless innings of relief.
Mike Lorentson earned the win for Penn State, firing 6.1 innings and giving up three runs.
The Owls will return to action tomorrow in the finale of the Screentech Wiregrass Classic. KSU will square off against host Troy University. Game time is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CST.
