April 14, 2009
Box Score
ATLANTA, Ga. - Kennesaw State rallied for a five-run seventh inning that included back-to-back home runs from Jenna Closner and Catherine Tarvin, but it wasn't enough as the Owls fell, 8-6, to No. 21 Georgia Tech on Tuesday night at Shirley Clement Mewborn Field.
Georgia Tech (32-11) wasted no time getting on the board as they scored four first inning runs. The Jackets took the lead when Jen Yee homered to left field. That was the beginning for Georgia Tech as they scored three more runs, two unearned, off singles from Tiffany Johnson, Whitney Haller and Kate Kuzma for a 4-0 advantage.
In the second inning, Kennesaw State (17-21) threatened to put a run on the board when Johnson (12-2) walked Tarvin and gave up a double to Kelsey Kulk, but the senior hurler got herself out of the jam, striking out the final two batters of the inning.
After starter April Harper was taken out of the game, Georgia Tech scored three runs in the second inning off reliever Amanda Burns. The Jackets got that included and RBI double from Johnson and a two-run, two-bagger from Kristen Adkins before Burns struck out the final two batters to end the inning.
After the Owls surrendered a solo run in the third inning, Kelsey Kulk put Kennesaw State on the board in the top of the fourth inning with her second hit of the game, a single down the left field line scoring Closner, who walked earlier in the inning.
The Owls threatened again in the fifth inning when Jordan Hackett was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on an error by Tech's third baseman, Danielle Dike. After Tarvin popped up to Yee in short right field, Hackett was gunned down at the plate, ending the inning.
After holding Tech to two scoreless innings, including a three-up, three-down sixth inning from Tarvin, the Owls rallied in the seventh. After Jamie KeKaualua was hit by a pitch, Lyndsay McCurry and Klair Wells singled to cut the lead to 8-2. With one out, Closner hit her fifth home run of the season, a shot that barely cleared the fence in left-center field, scoring three runs to make it a three-run game.
Tarvin then stepped up to the plate and belted her first collegiate home run, a shot that nearly cleared the light tower in right-center field to put the Black and Gold within two runs. The rally stalled as Jessica Coan (4-3) pitched her way out of the jam, striking out Jacki Warren and getting Kulk to fly out to and end the game.
The Owls return to action tomorrow afternoon when they travel to Panthersville, Ga. to play a doubleheader against Georgia State. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
