By: by Jason Hanes
KENNESAW, Ga. - Drew Fowlkes, Ross Tendler, and Bucky Smith all drove in two runs for Kennesaw State, but eight runs over the first two innings proved to be the difference for Samford as the Owls fell to the Bulldogs, 9-7, on Saturday afternoon at Stillwell Stadium in baseball action.
"I thought we showed a good fight to get back into the game and stay in it," said KSU head coach Mike Sansing. "We got good relief pitching and we swung the bats pretty well. Unfortunately, we just got behind too much early."
The Owls (1-5) were down 6-0 after the top of the first primarily due to walks and hit batters. Samford's first three batters were either walked or hit by a pitch, and after a single by Bo Smith, Samford led 1-0. KSU starter Sean Fream (0-3) was lifted at that point, but reliever Josh Carr couldn't get out of the jam, as five more runs would cross the plate before the side was retired.
KSU rallied back with four in the bottom half of the inning, as Drew Fowlkes deposited an offering from Kyle Putkonen over the right field wall for his second two-run homer in as many days to pull KSU within four. After a walk to Clint Roques, Ross Tendler homered to right center, pulling KSU within two, 6-4.
Samford (4-3) came back with back-to-back solo homers to start the second by Stephen Ballard and Mason Meredeth to extend the lead to four. After the two homers, Carr would settle down and not allow a run for the rest of his 4.2 innings of work.
The Owls mounted a charge in the fifth, as with runners on second and third, Bucky Smith doubled off the wall in right, plating both men to pull KSU within two. Peyton Hart continued his hot hitting one batter later, lifting a flare into left field for an RBI single to pull KSU within one, 8-7.
That would be as close as KSU would get, as Samford would keep the Owls off the scoreboard for the duration and the Bulldogs would add an insurance run off a balk in the ninth.
Kyle Clayton worked 2.1 scoreless innings for the Owls, while Micah Sales made his first appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery to pitch 1.1 innings for the Owls, allowing just one run.
"I was excited for Micah to be able to get back out there on the mound after all of the rehab work he has done," Coach Sansing said. "It looks like he's going to be a big part of our pitching plans this year."
Putkonen (1-0) pitched four effective innings to earn the win for Samford. Lex Rutledge earned his second save of the year by pitching a scoreless ninth.
The Owls will be back in action tomorrow, hosting the rubber game against the Bulldogs at 1 p.m.
