March 11, 2008
Box Score
TROY, Ala.--Kennesaw State rallied from a one-run deficit to take the lead in the top of the ninth, but the Owls couldn't hold the lead as KSU fell 12-11 in a three-hour, fifty minute marathon at Riddle-Pace Field.
Trailing 10-9, the Owls scored a pair in the top of the ninth to take the lead. With Jay Morrow on second, Andrew Martin doubled to right to bring home the game-tying run. One batter later, Jon White singled back up the middle, bringing in Martin to give KSU (5-8) an 11-10 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, a leadoff walk and a double put runners on second and third with no one out. After an intentional walk loaded the bases to set up a force play at any base, Kyle Clayton recorded the first out of the inning with a strike out.
Bubba Blalock then entered, facing the bases loaded jam. Unfortunately for KSU, a long at bat for Brett Henry ended with a walk to bring home the tying run. Then, Daryl Otwell was hit by a pitch to bring in the winning run, giving Troy the 12-11 victory.
The Owls took a 4-0 lead before the Trojans had a chance to come to the plate. A single down the line in left by Josh Whitaker brought in Tyler Stubblefield with the first run of the game. With Whitaker on first and Ric Bishop on second, Jace Whitmer connected for a three-run blast over the wall in left center to put KSU ahead by four.
Troy (12-3) responded with four runs in the bottom of the second to even the score. The Owls regained the advantage in the fourth when Martin scored on a balk, making it 5-4 for the visiting team.
The Trojans tied the game in the bottom of the frame, then took the lead in the fifth with a pair of runs.
Trailing 7-5, KSU put a three-spot on the board in the sixth. With two men on, Curtis Van Wyck doubled to right center to bring home the first run of the inning for the Black and Gold. Jacob Robbins followed with a single through the right side of the infield to bring in the tying run. Stubblefield brought in the final run of the inning with an RBI ground out to second.
The Owls added an insurance run in the eighth. Van Wyck's fourth hit of the game was a double to right to start the inning. After a sacrifice bunt by Robbins moved Van Wyck to third, Stubblefield singled to center to bring Van Wyck home with KSU's ninth run of the game.
Troy would regain the lead in the bottom of the eighth thanks to a bases loaded walk to Otwell and a bases loaded single by Trevor Tyre.
Clayton took the loss for KSU. Clayton pitched one-third of an inning and allowed a hit and a walk.
Neal Jordan fell into the win for Troy thanks to the Troy offense. Jordan pitched an inning and gave up two hits and a run.
