April 26, 2008
Box Score
A wild game fittingly had a wild finish on Saturday afternoon as Drew Fowlkes trotted home from third with the winning run in the 11th inning as Kennesaw State defeated Campbell 9-8 in Buies Creek, N.C. The Owls tied the game in the eighth, then led in the ninth and 10th innings only to see Campbell tie each time.
Down 5-4, the Owls (24-22, 15-9 Atlantic Sun) tied the score when pinch runner Clint Roques scored on a fielding error on Bucky Smith's grounder to second. In the ninth, KSU took the lead for the first time since the top of the first with a pair of runs. After a pair of two-out walks on full counts loaded the bases, Fowlkes attempted to play hero for the first time with a full-count single to left, scoring Tyler Stubblefield and Ric Bishop.
Campbell (17-28, 10-17 A-Sun) lived up to the Fighting Camels moniker though in the bottom of the inning, as a walk and three singles tied the game and brought the winning run to third with just one out. KSU reliever Michael Bohana was able to buckle down, retiring the final two batters to end the inning.
KSU took the lead in the 10th as Stubblefield's single to right scored Andrew Martin, who doubled to right center one batter earlier. Campbell came back with a run to even the score at 8-8, with Stephen Parsons earning his third RBI of the day with a single into center to score the tying run.
That would set the stage for the fireworks of the 11th inning. Morrow singled to start the inning, then advanced to second when Fowlkes was hit by a pitch. A fielder's choice eliminated Morrow from the base path, and a second fielder's choice put Fowlkes on third and Bucky Smith on first.
With Justin Lilly on in relief for Campbell after starting game two last night, the Camels attempted a common pick-off play - fake a throw to third, then throw back to first. However, the move wasn't executed properly in the eyes of the umpires, and a balk was called that allowed Fowlkes to come home with what proved to be the winning fun. Parsons, behind the plate for Campbell, and Campbell head coach Greg Goff were both ejected in the ensuing arguments as a balk call is not allowed to be challenged.
Kenny Faulk earned his first save of the season by retiring the side in the 11th with no runs crossing the plate. Jared Lehman (1-1) took the loss as Fowlkes' run was charged to him. Bohana (3-3) earned the victory with 2.2 innings of work.
The Owls led 2-0 after the first half-inning as Jacob Robbins and Martin Baker scored thanks to a Bishop sacrifice fly and a ground out by Morrow. Campbell answered with three in the first off of KSU starter Ryan Rodebaugh. The Black and Gold was behind by a pair when Campbell scored in the fourth, but KSU responded with two in the fifth as Baker's ground out scored Josh Whitaker and Bishop's single plated Stubblefield.
Campbell regained the lead in the bottom of the inning, setting the stage for the wild conclusion.
The Owls will be off until Friday when Gardner-Webb visits Stillwell Stadium to open an A-Sun series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.
