Feb. 20, 2009
Box Score
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Three home runs by the Kennesaw State baseball team were not enough as Samford scored single runs in the eighth and ninth to defeat the Owls 6-5 in the opening game of the 2009 baseball season for both schools.
A see-saw affair, KSU drew first blood after a single up the middle by Ric Bishop scored Jacob Robbins for the first run of the season in the top of the first inning. Samford came back with single runs in the second and third against KSU starter Kyle Heckathorn to take a 2-1 lead.
With two men out in the top of the fifth inning, Martin Baker connected on the first of the home runs on the day evening for the Owls. His two-run blast to right field gave KSU the 3-2 advantage.
Samford answered the KSU two-run homer with a two-run shot to left by Brad Moss, giving the Bulldogs the 4-3 lead.
The score remained the same until the top of the eighth when KSU rallied for the final time in the contest. Jace Whitmer and Curtis Van Wyck led off the frame with back-to-back solo homers, giving the Owls a 5-4 lead.
The lead wouldn't hold, however, as a two-out single up the middle by David Shulze brought home the tying run in the bottom of the eighth to even the score.
In the ninth, a walk and a wild pitch put a runner on second with one out for the Bulldogs. After an intentional walk, Marcus Rodriguez singled home the game-winning run, handing the Owls their first defeat of the season.
Adam Fine (0-1) took the loss for the Owls, giving up one run in two-thirds of an inning of work. Starting pitcher Kyle Heckathorn did not factor in the decision, allowing two runs on four hits in five innings of work while walking two and striking out four. Justin Edwards gave up three runs in two and two-thirds innings of action.
Kyle Nichols (1-0) pitched the ninth for the win for Samford.
The two teams will meet again tomorrow at Joe Lee Griffith Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CST.
Notes: The Owls have now alternated wins and losses in season openers in each of their four years at the Division I level...Baker and Josh Whitaker were the only Owls with two hits...Van Wyck and Whitaker each stole a base...Heckathorn threw 84 pitches in five innings of work while Samford starter Michael Jarry threw 83 to get through five innings.
