Feb. 7, 2009
Final Stats
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Louisiana-Monroe scored three runs in the first inning and added three in the top of the seventh to hand Kennesaw State its first loss of the season, 6-2, on Saturday afternoon in the final game of pool play at the Bulldog Round Robin.
Kennesaw State (2-1) got in a bind early when Brianna Love led off the game with a walk and stole second base. Sarah Carriger reached on a bunt single to put runners on the corners and Amanda Burns (0-1) walked Katie Girardi to load the bases with nobody out. A wild pitch and an error gave ULM (2-0) a two-run lead before Molly McNeil drove in the third run on a fielder's choice.
The Owls were able to answer back in the bottom of the inning with back-to-back, two-out doubles by Jessica Cross and Burns. The run-scoring two-bagger came on a shot down the left field line.
The Black and Gold trimmed the lead to one-run in the bottom of the third inning when Hollie Huffman and Klair Wells got back-to-back singles to lead off the frame. With one out, Cross delivered again with a single down the right field line scoring Huffman.
The Owls had opportunities from the third inning on as they left two runners on base in each of the innings. In the fourth, Jessica Symanski doubled and Brittany Moore singled before Huffman grounded out and Wells flied out.
In the fifth inning, Kennesaw State got a two-out rally started when Burns reached on an error and April Harper followed with a double down the left field line. However, the inning ended when Elizabeth Ward, who pinch ran for Burns, was picked off third base.
Kennesaw State again had the tying run in scoring position in the sixth inning when Catherine Tarvin led-off the inning with a pinch-hit single and Symanski was hit by a pitch. After a successful sacrifice by Closner, the Owls stalled as Huffman hit into a fielder's choice and Wells popped up to end the threat.
UL-Monroe would add three insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning to put the game out of reach. Michelle Farrell-Fink, Carriger and Girardi all delivered RBI singles.
Jordan Hackett walked to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning and Cross, who had six hits on the day, singled to left field. However, the Owls couldn't muster another hit as they left 10 runners on base in the game.
Cross led all players with three hits, going three-for-four, and was the only Owl with multi-hits. Burns picked up her first loss of the year, giving up two hits and two earned runs in 4.1 innings.
The Owls will continue play in the Bulldog Round-Robin on Sunday afternoon.
