By: by Scott Lipsky
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - Jenna Closner hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning, and that would be all the offense the Owls would need, as they used a complete game shutout from Jessica Cross to defeat the Georgia State Panthers, 2-0, on Saturday afternoon at Bailey Park on the campus of Kennesaw State.
Both Cross for the Owls (7-4) and Georgia State starter McCall Langford (7-3) had their ‘A’ games on the mound, with the two hurlers giving up just four hits apiece and keeping the game a scoreless tie all the way until the sixth inning.
At first, it looked as if Cross (W, 3-1) was going to be a little shaky during her outing, allowing the first two runners she faced to reach base on a pair of hits, giving the Panthers runners on second and third with nobody out. The right-hander from Tunnel Hill, Ga. settled down from that point forward, however, striking out the next two batters she faced and getting the third out on a harmless ground ball to first to end the inning. She would strike out nine in her seven innings of work.
“I felt like I threw the ball well today. The outside corner was in the strike zone today, so I tried to mix up my pitches and keep the hitters off-balance,” said Cross, who was stymied at the plate on Saturday after recording seven hits and eight RBIs in her last three games. “Overall, it was a good day on the mound for me.”
The Owls were kept in check offensively for most of the game, only getting three runners in scoring position during the first five innings. Freshman outfielder Jensen Hackett, who was the only Owl to have multiple hits on Saturday with her 2-for-3 performance, singled with one out in the fifth and was able to reach second on an error, putting two runners on with just one out with Scott Whitlock’s squad. They were unable to convert, however, keeping the game scoreless heading into the sixth inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the sixth and senior outfielder Kelsey Kulk on first after a lead-off walk with extra innings looming as a real possibility for the first time this season, Closner made the swing of the game, driving the ball into deep right center field and getting it to just clear the fence for her third home run of the season, making the game 2-0 with what would turn out to be the game-winning hit.
The win over their local rival closes out a 3-1 week for the Owls, who swept a doubleheader from Troy on Tuesday before dropping an 8-3 decision over Georgia Tech on Wednesday. While the game didn’t feature a ton of offense, head coach Scott Whitlock couldn’t help but to be pleased with the outcome.
“It was a well pitched game on both sides, so I’m glad we were ultimately to come out on top,” said Whitlock, whose club moves to 12-6 all-time against Georgia State. “Two of our seniors had the at-bats that turned the game, with Kelsey leading off with a walk to give us some momentum at the plate and Jenna getting the big hit. We’re a relatively young team, and our focus is on playing hard and scoring whenever we get the chance, so that was a good way to pull out a victory.”
The Owls hit the road again on Tuesday when they play a doubleheader against UAB starting at 3:00 p.m.
