March 21, 2009
Box Score
Box Score
MACON, Ga. - The Owls could not get their offense started against Mercer as Kennesaw State dropped two games to the Bears on Saturday afternoon at Sikes Field to open up Atlantic Sun Conference action. The Owls were edged 1-0 in game one and fell 5-1 in the nightcap.
The Owls (13-14, 0-2 A-Sun) only hit of the first game came in the third inning on a bunt single from Lyndsay McCurry. While April Harper (4-3) limited the Bears (23-9, 2-0 A-Sun) to just two hits, it was one of those hits that ended up scoring the winning run in the bottom of the third. After Amanda Santa Maria walked and advanced to third on a Brandy Ketter single, Holly Oglesbee used an RBI sac fly to put Mercer ahead, 1-0, and eventually take home the win.
Mercer's Jenni Holtz (14-4), who leads the league in wins, limited KSU to one hit and tied a career high 14 strikeouts in seven innings.
The second game remained scoreless until the third inning when Kelsey Kulk was hit by a pitch. The junior reached third base on an error by pitcher Emi Sherill, and Klair Wells singled to the shortstop to give the Owls their only lead of the afternoon, 1-0.
Kennesaw State almost added another run in the fourth when Brittany Moore and Rachel Chapman singled to start the inning. With no outs, Holtz came in to pitch for the Bears and quickly ended the inning, forcing two strikeouts and a fly out.
The Owls held onto the lead until the fifth inning when the Bears scored five runs off of four hits and one KSU error. With one out, Goodman was hit by a pitch and Page Raynor doubled to right center. The Bears took the lead after Casey Nellson, Brandy Keeter and Anna Johnson singled. The Mercer offense wasn't done there; after an Oglesbee single to the shortstop, Keeter stole home. Jena Ellis doubled to left center giving Mercer a 5-1 advantage.
The Owls threatened in the seventh inning when McCurry bunt singled but the Mercer defense was too much, handing KSU their second loss of the day and extending their winning streak to eight games.
Tarvin (5-6) pitched four and one third innings and took the loss for the Owls. The hurler allowed two hits and two runs while striking out six batters. Burns picked up one and two third innings in relief, allowing four hits and three runs.
Kennesaw State returns to action next weekend when they travel to Buies Creek, N.C. to battle the Campbell Camels. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. at the Eakes Athletic Complex.
