April 8, 2008
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga.--Sophomore Jace Whitmer drove in six runs over two games and Owls pitchers combined to allow just one run in 16 innings as Kennesaw State swept a doubleheader from Presbyterian College, 9-1 and 6-0.
"Jace has been swinging the bat well over the past couple of weeks," said KSU head coach Mike Sansing. "He's just found a good groove and we're getting guys on base to take advantage of it."
In game one, the Owls (17-16) jumped on top early by pushing five runs across the plate. Reigning Atlantic Sn Conference Player of the Week reached on a walk and scored in the first inning for the sixth straight game. Robbins, Bucky Smith and Jay Morrow all crossed home on Whitmer's three-run double.
Drew Fowlkes followed with a single through the right side to give the home team a 4-0 advantage. Fowlkes would eventually reach third and score on a passed ball for the fifth run of the inning.
The Owls tacked on another run in the fifth when Jay Morrow scored on a grounder by Fowlkes. Fowlkes would reach on a Blue Hose error but was still credited with the RBI.
The Blue Hose (8-21) scored its lone run of the twin bill on Cory Lyda's double to left center in the sixth inning.
The Black and Gold pushed three more runs across in the seventh inning to put the game away. With the bases loaded, Andrew Martin hit a chopper to third. The ball was thrown home to try and eliminate Whitmer, but the throw sailed wide and to the backstop, allowing two runners to score. After a wild pitch brought home Josh Whitaker, the Owls led 9-1.
Justin Edwards (3-2) earned the win for KSU. Edwards went 5.2 innings and allowed one run on nine hits with two walks and five strikeouts. Wes Tignor and Brett Kennedy combined to pitch 3.1 shutout innings to seal the deal.
In game two, the Owls started off with a 1-0 lead thanks to some small ball. Robbins reached to start his seventh consecutive game, this time via a bunt single. After a Smith bunt single and a sacrifice bunt by Morrow, Whitmer lifted a deep fly ball to right to bring home Robbins.
The score remained the same until the fourth inning when KSU sent 11 batters to the plate. Ross Tendler reached on an infield hit to start the inning, then moved to third on Jerome Wooley's bunt single coupled with a throwing error. With two runners in scoring position, Curtis Van Wyck singled back through the middle, bringing in Tendler and Wooley to extend the lead to 3-0.
Tyler Stubblefield bunted Van Wyck into scoring position. With two men out, Smith earned a walk and Morrow was plunked in the back by a pitch to load the bases.
Whitmer completed his big day with a flare that dropped into left center for a base hit. Van Wyck and Smith both scored to give the Owls a 5-0 cushion.
Whitaker would get in on the action one batter later, singling down the left field line to bring in Morrow, capping the scoring.
Four Owls pitchers combined for the seven-inning shutout. Kyle Clayton got the win. Working on a pitch count, Clayton was effective, not allowing a run in 2.2 innings of work. Ryan Rodebaugh, Kenny Faulk and Bubba Blalock combined to keep the Blue Hose scoreless for the remaining 4.1 innings.
