By: by Mark Toma
Game 1 Box |
Game 2 Box
KENNESAW, Ga. – Kennesaw State’s Jessica Cross pitched a complete game, three-hitter and hit her team-leading eighth home run in the first game of a doubleheader as the as the Owls split a twinbill with Campbell on
Friday afternoon at Bailey Park.
The Owls (15-12, 1-3 A-
Sun) won the first game as they run-ruled the Camels, taking an eight-run lead after three innings. Cross and Klair Wells each drove in two runs in the game as the Black and Gold scored a run in the first, five in the second and two in the third inning.
Cross (9-3) was impressive again in the circle as she allowed three hits and one walk over five innings for her eighth complete game and second shutout of the year. The right-hander struck out four batters and lowered her earned run average to a paltry 1.12 on the year.
Kennesaw State scored the game’s first run without a hit as Wells led off with a walk, advanced to second on a passed ball, moved to third on a fly out to center field and scored when Campbell third baseman Robin Leathers bounced a throw to first baseman Cassie Webb.
A five-run second inning decided the outcome for the Owls as Kelsey Kulk started things off with a one-out single. Jensen Hackett was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second, which also ended Campbell starter Christina Melton’s day.
Lauren Stephan entered to a wild pitch putting runners on second and third, but was able to strikeout Lyndsay McCurry for the second out. Stephan appeared to get out off the inning when another throwing error by Leathers scored both Kulk and Hackett, giving the Owls a 3-1 lead.
Ashlee Burkett singled to put runners on the corners before Cross launched an opposite field home run to right field making the score, 6-1. Wells came up with a two-run single in the third inning to complete the scoring and give the Owls their first conference win of the season.
In the nightcap, Campbell (13-17-1, 1-1 A-
Sun) scored four first inning runs off Kennesaw State starter Abbey Meixel (4-7) and cruised to a 5-1 win for their first A-
Sun win of the year.
Sara Forgacs led off the game with a triple and scored one batter later when Melton singled down the right field line. After an error and a single by Leathers loaded the bases, Stephan doubled to left center field scoring Taylor McGee and Melton while chasing Meixel after just one-third of an inning.
Amanda Burns relieved Meixel in the first and threw six effective innings of relief, allowing a run on three hits with a pair of strikeouts. At one stretch, Burns retired 13 straight Campbell batters. Cross relieved Burns with the bases loaded in the seventh inning when the Camels added their final run of the game.
Kennesaw State scored their run in the bottom of the third inning when Wells led off with a single and Burkett followed with a triple to right center field. Campbell starter Brittany Stanley (5-7) pitched out of the jam as she retired Cross, Sharon Swanson and Jenna Closner all on pop outs to shortstop.
The Owls would get five hits in the game, but left only four runners on base, none over the final four innings. Kennesaw State’s first three hitters, Wells, Burkett and Cross combined to go 4-for-9 with a run scored and a run batted in.
The Black and Gold will be back in action on
Wednesday evening when they take on the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens at 5:00 p.m.
