By: by Scott Lipsky
Box Score I
Live Stats
DELAND, Fla. – It took just one hour and 17 minutes, and by late morning the Kennesaw State Owls had their first-ever Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament victory, as Jessica Cross tossed a complete game, two-hit shutout to lead her teammates to a 1-0 victory over the USC Upstate Spartans. The Owls will play their second game tonight at 8 p.m. against Stetson, who won their first round match-up with Jacksonville this afternoon, 2-0.
Going up against the ace of the Spartans (38-14), junior Morgan Childers, Cross, a redshirt sophomore was impressive, allowing just two hits while striking out four. After allowing two base runners in the first inning on a single and an error, Cross dug in and retired 16 consecutive batters, keeping Upstate off of the base paths until the top of the seventh inning. During that stretch, she did not allow a single fair ball to leave the infield.
“I was working the drop ball and curve ball well today, and the hitters were beating them into the ground, which is what I was trying to get them to do,” said Cross, who moves to 15-10 on the season with the victory. “Our middle infielders did an awesome job of making the plays behind me and keeping the bases empty, and they deserve a lot of credit.”
The Owls (27-24) had to work hard to score against Childers, who, like Cross, was an All- Atlantic Sun Conference First Team selection. They had one hit apiece in innings two through four, but were unable to push any of those runners across home plate. They finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth, when, after a Hannah Graham walk, she advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Brittany Moore. Lyndsay McCurry also laid down a bunt, and after Graham reached third, she was able to score when the throw to first by USC Upstate third baseman Keri Sarratt was off line, putting the game’s only run up on the board.
The Spartans’ Crislyn Chewning, another First Team All A-Sun selection, singled off of Cross to lead off the top of the seventh inning, but the right-hander in the pitcher’s circle was not going to be denied, recording three consecutive outs to seal the victory.
“Today was about pitching and defense. We were able to make some good plays in the field, and we took advantage of the only real opportunity we had to score today,” said Owls head coach Scott Whitlock. “I’m really proud of our players, and now we’ll rest a little bit today and focus on tonight’s game.”
Tonight's game can be followed with live stats beginning at first pitch.
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| Owls pitcher Jessica Cross discusses her performance in Game One of the A-Sun Tournament |
Cross gets Monica Hall to ground out and end the game |
