March 1, 2008
Box Score
PANTHERSVILLE, Ga.--Freshman Jessica Cross pitched five shutout innings and drove in five runs to lead Kennesaw State to an 8-0 (6) victory over Western Carolina in the final game of day one at the Georgia State Spring Showdown. With the victory, the Owls assure themselves two contests with metro Atlanta rival Georgia State tomorrow afternoon.
Cross started the scoring for the Owls in the first inning, lifting a 1-0 pitch over the fence in dead center for a solo homer.
The Tunnel Hill, Ga., native struck again in the third. With runners on the corners, Cross drilled a 1-1 pitch to the base of the fence in center. Sarah Hesterman and Lyndsay McCurry each scored, giving the Owls a three-run lead.
The Owls (13-4) scored another run in the fifth as Amanda Malcom singled back up the middle to plate McCurry and put the Owls ahead, 4-0.
KSU put the game away in the sixth with four runs. A bases loaded wild pitch brought home Hesterman for the first run of the frame. Cross then completed her offensive outburst with a single down the line in left, scoring McCurry and Jamie KeKaualua to give the Black and Gold a seven-run cushion.
The Owls finished off the scoring two batters later when Kelsey Kulk singled through the left side of the infield, bringing home Cross to give KSU an 8-0 lead.
That would be more than enough for Cross (2-1). The freshman allowed only one hit to the Catamounts (2-10) in five innings of action. Cross walked two and struck out three. Brittany Matthews pitched the sixth, striking out the side, to finish off the game.
The Owls will return to action tomorrow afternoon when KSU plays two games against host Georgia State. The first game will be at 12:15 p.m., with the final and the championship game of the Spring Showdown, scheduled to follow at 4:45.
