May 15, 2009
Box Score
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Kennesaw State led early, scoring the first four runs of the game, but those would be the only runs the Owls would score as KSU lost to North Florida, 7-4, in the baseball season finale for both Atlantic Sun Conference schools.
The Owls jumped on top with three in the first. Jacob Robbins singled to start off the game, with Tyler Stubblefield lacing his 20th double of the year to right one batter later. Ric Bishop drove in Robbins with a single to right, opening the scoring. Jace Whitmer followed with a single to center for KSU's fourth straight hit, plating Stubblefield. After a single by Curtis Van Wyck, Clint Roques grounded into a double play, scoring Bishop with the third run of the inning.
One inning later, the Owls (30-22, 20-9) struck again. With one out, Robbins reached on an error, then stole second. Two batter later, Bishop singled through the left side of the UNF infield, scoring Robbins to give KSU a 4-0 lead.
The Ospreys (23-31, 15-15) came back with three in the third cut into the deficit. Two innings later, the Ospreys tied the score, then took the lead when Paul Morales doubled to right to drive in the eventual game-winning run. UNF tacked on an unearned run in the sixth, and an insurance run in the eighth.
Justin Edwards (5-4) worked seven innings, but took the loss after allowing six runs on nine hits.
The loss eliminated KSU from any chance of winning the A-Sun regular season, but the Owls will close the season in second place for the second consecutive year, besting all of the schools that are eligible for the A-Sun Tournament. This is KSU's final year of ineligibility, as the Owls will officially complete the transition to Division I from Division II this summer.
