March 26, 2008
Box Score
ATHENS, Ga.--Kennesaw State head coach Mike Sansing has preached to his squad all year that if his team plays solid defense, it will have a chance to win every game. On Wednesday afternoon, the Owls got timely hitting, played solid defense and took advantage of five Georgia errors en route to an 8-6 victory over the Bulldogs at Foley Field.
"We did a good job of hitting the ball hard today," said Coach Sansing, who added he felt some of the errors charged to Georgia were tough decisions. "It was encouraging to see us get timely hits and pull out a victory today."
Jacob Robbins scored three times for the Owls, singling twice and stealing a pair of bases. Martin Baker drove home a pair of runs with two hits and Jace Whitmer and Bucky Smith each had two hits and an RBI.
The Owls wasted no time in putting a run on the scoreboard, tallying a run in the first. Robbins reached on a bunt single, then advanced to third on a throwing error by pitcher Alex McRee. Robbins trotted home on Ric Bishop's RBI ground out.
Georgia came back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead for the first time on the afternoon. The score remained the same until the third when the Owls (9-14) put a pair of runs on the board. With Robbins on second following a steal and a stolen base, Bishop reached on a two-base error by Ryan Peisel with two men out in the inning. The error allowed Robbins to score from second, tying the score at 2-all.
Jay Morrow was hit by a pitch to extend the inning and put two men on base. Whitmer delivered in the clutch, singling to left to score Bishop and give the Owls a one-run cushion.
The lead would be short lived, as Georgia (13-9) tacked on a run in the fourth to tie the score. An RBI single by Bryce Massanari brought home Matt Olson from second to even the game.
In the sixth, the Owls needed just one hit to score four runs, thanks in large part to UGA miscues. With two men out and runners on second and third, a passed ball on ball four to Robbins allowed Drew Fowlkes to score from third to give KSU the lead. With Baker at the plate, Robbins stole second to put two men in scoring position. Needing another clutch hit, the Hoover, Ala., native delivered a single to left, scoring Bucky Smith and Robbins to give the Owls a 6-3 lead.
"That was a big hit for Martin," said Coach Sansing. "It came at a time when we really needed a lift and he delivered."
With two men still out in the inning, a fielding error by Peisel at third allowed Bishop to reach second and Baker to score from second to give the Owls a four-run cushion.
In the eighth, the Owls added a key insurance run. With one out in the frame, Tyler Stubblefield singled to left. Smith then roped a double into left field, bringing Stubblefield all the way home from first to give KSU its final run of the game.
The Bulldogs came back with three runs in the home half of the eighth inning. Rich Poythress and Olson each had RBI singles and Poythress scored on a wild pitch.
In the ninth, the Bulldogs got the leadoff man on base, but Michael Bohana sealed the deal, retiring the next three batters in order to give the Owls a win in Athens for the second consecutive year.
Micah Sales went five strong innings to earn his first win of the season for the Owls. Sales allowed three runs on four hits with three walks and a strikeout. Ryan Rodebaugh pitched 2.1 innings of relief and was charged with three earned runs. Bohana recorded the last five outs of the contest to earn his third save of the season.
"Micah did really well for us," said Coach Sansing. "Ryan Rodebaugh had a couple of tough balls hit against him that I thought could have been errors. He was good for us on the mound as well.
"We like the fact that we can use Michael in mid-week games and he can come back and pitch for us on the weekends," Coach Sansing added. "He just wants the ball, and that's the attitude you want as a coach from your closer."
Stephen Ochs (0-2) allowed three runs in 1.2 innings to take the loss for UGA.
Entering the two-game series with a .517 batting average, UGA's Gordon Beckham was held hitless by the Owls in eight official trips to the plate. In Wednesday's game, the Owls out-hit the Bulldogs, 11-9, and did not commit an error, compared to UGA's five.
The Owls have won in their past two trips to Foley Field. KSU defeated Georgia last season, 3-2.
KSU will travel to Nashville, Tenn., to take on Lipscomb University in an Atlantic Sun Conference doubleheader. Game time on Friday is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. CDT.
