April 24, 2008
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - Freshman Jessica Cross continued her assault on Atlantic Sun Conference pitcher as she smacked a pair of homers to help Kennesaw State sweep a twilight doubleheader from Gardner-Webb on Thursday afternoon at Varsity Field.
KSU scored five unanswered runs to take game one, 6-1, before winning a 2-1 decision in the nightcap.
The Owls (35-16, 13-7 A-Sun) have won four straight A-Sun series and eight of their last nine games to shoot up the conference standings. KSU has outscored opponents 35-13 over the stretch and have been led by Cross, who has hit .615 with six home runs and 11 RBI during the nine games.
The Tunnel Hill, Ga. product started the five-run barrage in the top of the fifth when her three-run homer to right undid a 1-1 stalemate. After Jordan Hackett reached on a fielder's choice with two outs, Amanda Malcom secured the first of her two singles to put runners at first and second. That's all Cross would need as she ripped a pitch to right, netting her team-high 14th longball and 40th RBI of the season.
KSU added to the lead in the sixth with back-to-back singles from Lyndsay McCurry and Hackett to put the game out of reach.
Brittany Matthews (21-7) was stellar in the circle after she went four innings while allowing just the lone run in the opener. She gave up five hits and struck out five GWU batters to move her conference-leading total to 278 strikeouts. The senior southpaw, already the KSU all-time strikeout leader, needs just 16 more for 900 in her illustrious career.
Cindy Boomhower (3-8) took the loss for the Bulldogs after giving up six runs on 11 hits in seven innings of worked.
Gardner-Webb (20-30, 5-15) jumped on top of the Owls in game two with a run in its first at-bats. Kelly Linsley earned a leadoff walk and eventually scored on an error by McCurry, who tried to throw her out going to third on Christa Fullwood's single. However, the throw sailed into the Bulldogs' dugout, allowing Linsley to come home.
The Black and Gold rallied in the second inning as Cross belted a solo shot off Christine Murray's offering, tying the score at 1-1. After two more scoreless innings, KSU jumped ahead in the fourth on a two-out single by Catherine Rodriguez.
Rodriguez hit a ball to center field that ball fell just in front of a diving Linsley, scoring a speedy McCurry from first to give the Owls a 2-1 lead.
The Bulldogs tried to mount a rally in the fifth, when, with one out, Lindsay Cox hit a ball back to Cross, who fielded it and threw it wildly to the Owls' dugout. Cox moved to second on the error and was advanced to third on Linsley's grounder to second base. However, Cross got out of the jam when Melody Harrell grounded out to KeKaualua.
Cross moved to 8-4 on the season with the win, going five strong innings with three strikeouts. She gave up one walk and three hits. Murray suffered the loss despite going the distance and striking out six KSU batters.
Angela Lopez picked up saves in both contests, pitching a total of five innings of perfect ball. The senior from Navarre, Fla. did not allow a hit while fanning nine Bulldog hitters.
The Owls will close out their season on Saturday afternoon when they welcome East Tennessee State to Bailey Park. KSU will honor the Senior Class of 2008 prior to the contest, with the ceremonies beginning at roughly 1:30 p.m., with first pitch being scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Fans can catch all the action on A-Sun TV.
