April 7, 2008
Box Score
DeLAND, Fla. - Brittany Matthews gave up a ninth inning lead-off walk and a double to follow as Stetson blanked Kennesaw State, 1-0, on Monday afternoon at Patricia Wilson Field.
The loss was the fourth straight for the Owls (27-13, 5-5 A-Sun) and the second consecutive series they have been swept in as Florida Gulf Coast took a pair of games from KSU on Friday. The Hatters improve to 31-16 overall and 5-4 in conference play.
After eight and a half innings of scoreless ball, Nicole Forbes worked Matthews to a 3-1 count before earning the pass on the next pitch. Stetson's best hitter in Andrea Migliori, who had gone 0-for-3, stepped in to the box and connected on a full-count offering, driving it into the gap to the wall in left center, allowing Forbes to score from first for the lone run of the game.
The Owls were not without scoring opportunities as they stranded runners in six of the nine frames. KSU left nine runners on base in total, including two apiece in the fifth through seventh innings.
The best of the chances came in the sixth when Lyndsay McCurry tallied her second single of the game to lead off and then put her speed to use, stealing second base. After Jessica Cross's fly-out to center, Jacki Warren put runners on the corners when she reached on a throwing error by pitcher, Amanda Lindsey. Warren quickly notched her first stolen base of the season to give the Black and Gold it best prospect to break the scoreless deadlock.
Unfortunately for head coach Scott Whitlock and the Owls, Corri Connally struck out and Jenna Closner grounded out to end the opportunity.
Matthews (17-6) was on top of her game despite the blemish in the ninth. The Brooks, Ga. native struck out 11 Stetson batters and gave up four hits and two walks in the losing effort. Lindsey (17-10) picked up her second straight win after not allowing a run in the five-hit, nine-strikeout complete-game effort.
McCurry led the KSU offense, going 2-for-4 while Warren, Closner and Jordan Hackett each went 1-for-4.
The Owls will look to get back into the win column when they host a pair of A-Sun doubleheaders this weekend at Bailey Park. KSU will face Lipscomb on Friday at 2:00 p.m., before playing Belmont on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.
