March 12, 2008
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Ala.--Kennesaw State jumped on the board in the first inning again, but the Owls couldn't hang on, falling, 4-2, to Jacksonville State Wednesday night at Rudy Abbott Field.
The Owls took the lead in the first inning without the benefit of a hit. Jacob Robbins started the inning with a walk, then advanced all the way to third when Tyler Stubblefield's grounder to shortstop was mishandled for a KSU error.
Ric Bishop then lifted a deep fly ball to right for a sacrifice fly, scoring Robbins to give the Owls their first run of the game.
The score would remain the same until the fifth inning. With two men on and two men out, Clay Whittemore ripped a triple down the line in right to score both runners and give JSU the 2-1 advantage. Whittemore finished the evening 4-for-4 at the plate.
The Owls rallied to tie the game in the eighth inning, again scoring without the benefit of a hit. Jerome Wooley started the inning with a walk then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Robbins. After Stubblefield moved Wooley over to third with a ground out to second, the senior raced home to score the tying run on a wild pitch by Alex Jones.
A costly error proved to be the difference in the contest. With runners on first and second after the first two batters reached, Kyle McCreary entered to pinch hit. McCreary laid down a bunt towards third. Jon White made the throw to first to get the runner out, but the throw sailed high. The error allowed both runs to score to give the Gamecocks all the runs they would need.
Micah Sales (0-2) took the loss for KSU, giving up both runs in the eighth inning with only one being earned. Kyle Heckathorn started for the Owls and went four-plus innings, with both of JSU's runs in the fifth being charged to him. Justin Freeman gave up a hit with both inherited runners scoring, while Kenny Faulk gave up a hit but struck out four in two innings of relief.
Jones earned the win for JSU, giving up a hit and uncorking the game-tying wild pitch in the eighth but striking out three in the process.
