April 7, 2009
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - Bucky Smith's lead-off homer in the eighth inning proved to be the winning run as Kennesaw State defeated Western Carolina, 12-10, in non-conference baseball action at Stillwell Stadium.
With the score knotted at 10-all, Smith connected on a 1-1 offering from Garrett Ozar (2-2) for a solo homer over the wall in right-center. Ric Bishop's RBI double would tack on an insurance run for KSU, and Kenny Faulk (3-2) held the Catamounts scoreless in the ninth to preserve the victory.
With temperatures in the low 40's, and the wind chill dipping even deeper, both teams came out with hot bats to start the game. Western Carolina scored five runs through the first three innings, while the Owls plated four runs in the first three frames, capped by Jace Whitmer's seventh homer of the season.
The Owls (15-12) took their first lead of the game in the fifth when four runs went on the scoreboard. A bases loaded single by Whitmer scored Jacob Robbins with the tying run, then a walk to Tyler Stubblefield one batter later forced Smith home with the go-ahead run. A wild pitch one batter later scored Curtis Van Wyck, and Josh Whitaker finished the scoring when his ground out to third scored Whitmer.
WCU (18-10) cut into the lead with a run in the sixth, but the Owls answered back with two runs of their own. Smith's RBI single and Whitmer's RBI ground out put the Owls up 10-6.
The Catamounts would rally for two runs in both the seventh and eighth innings, setting the stage for Smith's heroics in the bottom of the eighth.
Smith and Whitmer each finished with three RBI's, while Smith and Robbins each had three hits.
Winners of four games in a row and sitting in first place in the Atlantic Sun Conference, the Owls will face USC Upstate in an Atlantic Sun Conference series this weekend at Stillwell Stadium. First pitch in Friday's opening contest is set for 6:00 p.m.
