March 8, 2009
Box Score
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - Kennesaw State used a successful double steal in the top of the ninth inning to defeat Indiana State, 1-0, in the final game of the Buzz Classic on Sunday afternoon at the Twin Creek Softball Complex.
After Jamie KeKaualua was placed on second base to begin the ninth inning, Lyndsay McCurry sacrificed KeKaualua to third base and Klair Wells followed with an infield hit. After an attempted squeeze play saw the second out of the inning, the Owls executed a perfect double steal with Hollie Huffman forcing a throw to second base as Wells scampered home with the go-ahead run.
The Owls (9-11) got another solid pitching effort from April Harper. The freshman pitched a nine-inning shutout for the first of her career a day after she earned her first collegiate win. Over the weekend, the right-hander picked up a pair of wins and a save as KSU won three games over the weekend.
Harper (2-2) scattered just six hits in the game, struck out three batters and twice pitched out of bases loaded jams including getting an extraordinary effort from Jessica Symanski in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Owls freshman shortstop made a diving catch on a line drive and then raced to third base to double-up the runner on third and keep the contest tied.
Indiana State (4-7) got a strong pitching effort from starter Darcy Wood. The right-hander struck out 13 batters and allowed just three hits in the game and at one point retired 18 batters in a row before Catherine Tarvin singled to left field in the seventh inning. The first hit after Brittany Moore singled with two outs in the first inning.
Kennesaw State's April Harper was named to the all-tournament team as she pitched in all five games, finishing the weekend with a 2-0 record and earning a save. In 26.2 innings pitched she allowed 19 hits and held her opponents to a .204 average.
Wells had a strong tournament for the Owls, hitting .400 (8-for-20) with a double, home run and a team high three runs batted in. Moore also drove in three runs, hitting .353 going 6-for-17 on the weekend.
The Black and Gold will head to Florida for Spring Break, playing four games beginning with single games against Ball State and Central Florida on Tuesday and concluding with a doubleheader at Bethune-Cookman in Daytona Beach on Wednesday afternoon.
