By: by Scott Lipsky
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. – Josh Whitaker and Drew Fowlkes both had multi-hit games for Kennesaw State, but the Jacksonville State Gamecocks were too much for the Owls in the end, collecting 20 hits on their way to an 11-4 victory over the Black and Gold on Tuesday night at Stillwell Stadium.
The Owls (14-21, 5-7 A-Sun) struggled on the mound on Tuesday evening, sending four pitchers to the rubber during the team’s Third Annual Crawfish Boil, as every fan in attendance was treated to a crawfish dinner courtesy of KSU Activities Board, KSU Housing, KSU Athletics, and Cajun Catering.
Owls freshman Catlan Kendrick started out solid, only allowing just one run over the first three innings. With the Owls trying to hold on to a 2-1 lead entering the fourth, however, the Gamecocks (18-15, 6-3 Ohio Valley) began to hit their strike offensively. Kendrick allowed a double, triple, and home run with the first three batters he faced in the inning to give JSU a lead they would not relinquish. After allowing another run, this time unearned due to a throwing error on his part, he was replaced by left-handed freshman Kelly Holt, who retired the side without any more damage.
The Gamecocks added five more runs over the next three innings off of Holt and right-hander Jordan Dean, a junior to make the score 10-2 and essentially put the game out of reach.
Mike Sansing’s club continued to fight, scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth thanks to a two-run double by Fowlkes that was set up by a double by Tyler Stubblefield and a single by Josh Whitaker to make it 10-4. The hit capped off a 2-for-3 night at the plate for Fowlkes. Jacksonville State added one more run in the top of the ninth to make it 11-4 with sophomore Sean Fream on the mound.
With the defeat, the Owls have now dropped five of their last six games. Kendrick took the loss to fall to 0-2 on the season. This also caps a season sweep at the hands of Jacksonville State, as they fell to the Gamecocks in Jacksonville, Ala. on Feb. 24.
Kennesaw State will be back in action on Saturday when they take on North Florida in an Atlantic Sun Conference doubleheader beginning at 1:00 p.m.
