May 15, 2009
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - On the final day of the regular season, junior Chad Jenkins completed a storybook year with his eighth consecutive winning decision in Atlantic Sun Conference games with his fifth complete game of the season. leading Kennesaw State to an 8-3 win over North Florida in game one of a doubleheader.
Coupled with Florida Gulf Coast's 2-1 loss to Stetson in game one of a doubleheader, the Owls moved to within one game of first place in the A-Sun.
Jenkins found himself in unfamiliar territory early in the game as UNF (22-31, 14-15) scored three runs (one unearned) in the third to take a 3-0 lead. The score stayed the same until the fifth inning, when with two men out, Jon White connected on the first offering from hurler Phil Rorabaugh for a two-run homer, bringing KSU within a run.
The Owls (30-21, 20-8) evened up the score an inning later when Curtis Van Wyck singled to center with two men out, plating Tyler Stubblefield with the tying run.
KSU took control of the game in the seventh. With the bases loaded, Jacob Robbins tripled for the sixth time this season, clearing the bases to give the Owls a 6-3 lead.
Two more Owls came home to roost in the ninth as Jace Whitmer singled through the right side with two men out, scoring White and Robbins to give KSU a five-run cushion.
That would be more than enough run support for Jenkins (8-1). The Calhoun, Ga., native needed 121 pitches to get 27 outs, with 10 coming via the strikeout. With 98 strikeouts on the season, Jenkins finishes tied for the season lead with junior starter Kyle Heckathorn.
Jenkins, who earlier this season had a 41 inning scoreless streak, did not lose an A-Sun start all season. His last loss in A-Sun play came against Gardner-Webb on May 3, 2008. His only defeat this season came in non-conference play against No. 3 Georgia Tech.
The win gives KSU 30 wins for the third consecutive season. A victory in game two of the doubleheader with UNF would give the Owls their best winning percentage since joining Division I.
