April 2, 2008
Box Score
STATESBORO, Ga.--Home runs by Bucky Smith, Ric Bishop and Jay Morrow proved to be the difference as Kennesaw State improved to 3-0 all-time against Georgia Southern with a, 7-6, victory over the Eagles at J.I. Clements Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Smith, Bishop and Morrow combined for six RBI's against the Eagles. Smith got the Owls on the board in the first with his first collegiate homer, a two-run blast that brought home Jacob Robbins to give the Owls the early lead.
The score stayed the same until the third inning when the Owls plated two more runs. After a Bishop single, Morrow turned on a 1-0 offering for a two-run homer to left center, giving the Owls a 4-0 cushion.
The Eagles came back with a run in the bottom of the inning. KSU would push through for two more runs in the fourth to extend the lead. Smith's ground out to second brought in Curtis Van Wyck for the first run of the frame. Bishop then reached on a fielding error at first base. Tyler Stubblefield raced home with the KSU run, giving the Owls a 6-1 lead.
A sacrifice fly brought home a run in the fourth for GSU. A solo homer by Chris Shehan in the fifth cut the Black and Gold lead to just three.
The Owls got an important insurance run in the seventh when Bishop connected on a 2-2 pitch from Burt Barto for a solo homer - the team-leading sixth round-tripper of the season for the junior. The Owls led 7-3 needing just nine more outs.
The Eagles rode the bat of A.J. Wirnsberger to two runs in the seventh and a run in the ninth. In the seventh, Wirnsberger connected for a two-run home run to cut the KSU lead in half. Leading off the ninth, Wirnsberger launched a solo blast to slice the lead to just one run.
After a single put the tying run on base, Michael Bohana buckled down to seal the deal. Bohana recorded a strikeout, a fielder's choice, and a second strikeout to earn his fourth save of the year.
Freshman Ryan Rodebaugh (1-0) was effective in the start, throwing 60 pitches over three innings to earn his first collegiate win. Rodebaugh gave up two runs on five hits. Bubba Blalock pitched 3.1 innings and allowed three runs. Justin Edwards threw 13 pitches to record three outs and Bohana allowed three hits and a run over the final 1.2 innings.
Justin Davis (1-3) gave up two runs on five hits in 1.2 innings to take the loss for the Eagles. GSU sent seven pitchers to the mound.
The Owls were out-hit, 14-13, and committed three errors to just one for the Eagles. But GSU left 12 men on base, as KSU pitchers were able to limit the damage when the Eagles got runners on the base paths.
The two teams met twice last season, with the Owls winning by scores of 7-4 and 7-5. The teams are scheduled to meet again in Kennesaw on April 23.
The Owls will return home for an important Atlantic Sun Conference series against East Tennessee State. The three-game set starts Friday at 6:00 p.m.
