April 11, 2008
Box Score
SPARTANBURG, S.C.--Kennesaw State's winning streak was snapped at seven games as the Owls fell, 14-5, to USC Upstate on Friday night at Harley Park. Jace Whitmer drove in a pair of runs for the Owls in the loss.
The first inning was perhaps a harbinger of things to come for KSU as Jacob Robbins had his streak of reaching base and scoring to start the game for the Owls come to an end. Instead, the Owls were retired in order and the Spartans scored four runs in the first off of sophomore Kyle Heckathorn (1-1) to take the early lead.
The score stayed the same until the fifth when the Spartans tacked three more runs up on the board. USC Spartanburg would eventually chase Heckathorn out in the inning, with Adam Fine entering in relief.
KSU finally got on the scoreboard in the sixth as Tyler Stubblefield singled to center to bring home Curtis Van Wyck with the first run of the game for the visitors. Upstate would answer back with six runs to put the game away, with five of those runs being unearned.
The Owls brought home a pair of runs in both the seventh and eighth innings. In the seventh, Stubblefield's single to right center brought home Drew Fowlkes with the first run of the inning. Josh Whitaker would score one batter later, just getting across the plate safely on a ball that was eventually a double play on the base paths.
Whitmer got the Owls on the board in the eighth with a homer to left center. Martin Baker came in ahead of Whitmer, making the score 13-5.
Upstate would score its final run in the bottom of the eighth inning, then hold KSU scoreless in the ninth to take the victory and end the winning streak.
Justin Hayes (1-1) earned his first win of the season by pitching 3.2 innings of relief for the Spartans (18-17, 11-8).
The two teams are scheduled to meet tomorrow for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
