March 7, 2008
Box Score
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Brittany Matthews threw a no-hitter and Kennesaw State used a seven-run first inning to defeat Quinnipiac, 8-0, in five innings on Friday morning at the Under Armour Invitational at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.
Matthews (12-1) was untouchable for the second time this season and the fifth of her career after facing 16 batters. The Brooks, Ga. native would have faced the minimum but Julie Sini reached base for the Bobcats (4-5) after her swinging strike three squirted away from KSU's Jenna Closner.
Meanwhile, the Owls (16-5) had no problem putting runners on base and got the scoring started right out of the gates. Corri Connally plated the Black and Gold's first run with a bases loaded walk, before Closner doubled to right center to score two more.
Jordan Hackett followed with a walk to again load the bases and Jamie KeKaualua earned her fifth RBI of the season by drawing a walk to stretch the KSU lead to four. After Lyndsay McCurry reached on a fielder's choice, Jessica Cross scored the final three runs of the frame when her double to left center cleared the bases and put the contest all but out of reach for Quinnipiac.
Matthews closed the game with eight strikeouts to move her team-leading total to 139 for the season. She has not allowed an earned run in her last four appearances, a stretch of 21 innings.
Jaimie Iaquinto (2-2) suffered the loss for the Bobcats after being tagged for six hits and seven earned runs in five innings of work.
The Owls will return to action later this afternoon as they face Fairfield in both teams' third game of the four-day event.
