March 20, 2008
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga.--In his best start of the season to this point, Kyle Heckathorn pitched six-plus innings, giving up three hits and an unearned run while striking out eight as Kennesaw State defeated Belmont 3-1 in an Atlantic Sun Conference game at Stillwell Stadium.
At one point, Heckathorn (1-0) struck out five batters in a row. The sophomore threw 98 pitches with 67 going for strikes.
The Owls (7-12, 4-3) jumped on the board with a pair of runs in the third. Tyler Stubblefield started the inning with a bunt single, moving to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jacob Robbins. After Martin Baker's ground out to first moved Stubblefield to third, the sophomore came home to score on a solid single to right by Ric Bishop to give the Owls their first run of the game.
Jay Morrow singled next, moving Bishop over to third base. With Josh Whitaker at the plate, Jay Morrow took off from first, eventually getting hung up in a rundown between first and second. During the rundown, Bishop raced home to score to give KSU a 2-0 lead.
The Owls tacked on another run in the fifth. With Jacob Robbins on first after a two-out walk, Baker lifted a fly ball to the gap in left center. A diving attempt at the catch by Carlo Testa came up just short, letting Robbins race home all the way from first to put KSU ahead, 3-0.
The Bruins (7-11, 4-6) got their only run in the seventh inning. Curtis Van Wyck's error allowed Brandon McCall to reach to start the inning. A single to center put runners on the corners and spelled the end of the day for Heckathorn.
Wes Tignor came in to relive Heckathorn and faced Nate Woods to start his appearance. Woods sent a towering fly ball to deep left that was caught just in front of the wall by Whitaker for the out. McCall scored to put the Bruins on the board, but the rally would be snuffed out as Jace Whitmer gunned down a runner trying to steal and Tignor earned an inning-ending strike out.
Kenny Faulk retired a batter in the ninth before Michael Bohana came in to retire the side to earn his second save of the season.
Brian Kelley (0-3) was the hard-luck loser for Belmont. Kelley went all eight innings for the Bruins and gave up four runs on three hits. He walked four batters and struck out seven.
The Owls will return to action tomorrow when the Bruins return for an A-Sun doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
