April 1, 2008
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga.--Kennesaw State found a way to get back into the win column on Tuesday afternoon, defeating Alabama State, 9-3, at Stillwell Stadium. Jace Whitmer homered to help hurler Adam Fine earn his first win as an Owl.
After Alabama State (9-11) drew first blood thanks to an unearned run in the top of the first, the Owls bounced back with three unearned runs in the bottom of the inning. Jacob Robbins walked to start the game, then reached second safely thanks to a throwing error on Bucky Smith's fielder's choice. Smith would be thrown out trying to steal second, but Jay Morrow walked to set the stage for Whitmer.
Facing a 3-2 count, Whitmer connected for a deep drive to center that cleared the fence just to the left of the 400-foot mark on the center field wall. Robbins and Morrow scored ahead of Whitmer to put KSU ahead, 3-1.
KSU (11-16) put the game away with six runs in the third. With Ric Bishop on third and Jerome Wooley on first, Wooley took off for second in a steal attempt on a 3-2 count to Whitmer. Whitmer struck out swinging, but no Hornet covered second, allowing Wooley to reach safely as the throw went into center field. Bishop strolled home from third to make it 4-1 in favor of KSU.
The Black and Gold kept pouring it on. After Drew Fowlkes was hit by a pitch, Josh Whitaker singled to center to score Wooley for the second run of the inning. Curtis Van Wyck followed with a single through the left side, scoring Fowlkes from second for another tally.
A single by Ross Tendler loaded the bases for Robbins. With nowhere to put the junior, Robbins drew a five-pitch walk to bring Whitaker home for an RBI. Smith then reached on a fielder's choice to score Van Wyck for the fifth run of the inning.
The scoring for KSU finally concluded when Bishop's high chopper went through the right side of the infield for a single to bring home Tendler, giving the owls a 9-1 lead.
Alabama State scored a pair of runs against Brett Kennedy in the seventh to complete the scoring.
Fine (1-0) pitched five innings for the Owls to earn the victory. Fine allowed just one unearned run on two hits. Kennedy earned his first save for KSU, giving up two runs on one hit in four innings of work to go with five strikeouts.
The Owls will be back in action tomorrow against Georgia Southern in Statesboro. Game time is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.
