By: by Scott Lipsky
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. – Jessica Cross was dominant in the pitcher’s circle once again, and the Kennesaw State Owls were able to use her performance and some timely hitting to edge out the Samford Bulldogs, 1-0, on Thursday afternoon at Bailey Park, snapping a five-game losing streak.
Cross, who moves to 7-3 on the season, took just 79 pitches to dispose of the Bulldogs (7-10), allowing just two hits (both singles) and striking out seven while walking none in her seven-inning shutout. Only one Samford runner moved into scoring position throughout the game.
“Today I was just really focused, and just concentrated on throwing good pitches,” said Cross, a redshirt sophomore, who tossed her sixth complete game of the season on Thursday. “It gave me a lot of confidence that I had a good defense behind me, so I could just make sure I threw the ball well.”
The Owls (13-10) left the bases loaded in the bottom of the third inning after two batters walked and freshman Jensen Hackett reached on an error. They were hitless heading into their half of the fourth, when their loan burst of offense took place.
Freshman Sharon Swanson doubled to left field with one out. After advancing to third on a deep fly ball to center field by senior Jenna Closner allowed Swanson to advance, Karlie Gillam, also a freshman, knocked a base hit up the middle on an 0-2 count to score Swanson and give Scott Whitlock’s club all of the runs they would need. The hits by Swanson and Gillam were also the only two of the game by the Owls.
Samford put the tying run on base with two outs in the seventh, when Alex Adams hit a single on a full count to get to first base. Cross would get the next batter, Amanda Jordan, to ground out to first and end the game.
“This was a well-pitched game, and after struggling on the road, we’re sure glad to be back here and get a victory,” said Whitlock, referring to his team’s 0-4 trip to Florida last week. “We played well as a team and Jessica gave us a great performance to allow us to win.”
Today’s game was the second consecutive one in which the Owls did not commit an error. It is the first time in 2010 that they have accomplished the feat.
Kennesaw State plays at Jacksonville State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and at Georgia State on Wednesday at 4 p.m. before returning to Bailey Park to take on Atlantic Sun Conference foe Campbell next Friday at 4 p.m.
