By: KSU Sports Information
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. – Western Carolina scored three runs in the top of the first inning and held off Kennesaw State, 5-1, on Tuesday night at Stillwell Stadium.
The Catamounts (8-6) got to Kennesaw State starter Travis Dean early as the freshman walked the leadoff hitter Austin Schultz before the next batter, Matt Johns, hit a two-run homer that landed on the deck of the Bailey Building for a two-run lead. Johns would finish the game with two hits and three runs batted in to lead Western Carolina.
Ross Heffley, who is hitting .500 for the season, promptly singled and after a sacrifice bunt, Adam Martin doubled to right center field for a 3-0 lead. Dean (1-2) recovered to throw two scoreless innings, before allowing a run in the fourth. He finished the game allowing four runs on six hits with five walks.
The Owls bullpen of Jordan Dean, Caden Ferguson and Devin Dunson combined to allow just one run on two hits over the final five innings. Jordan Dean allowed a run on one hit over two and two-third innings while Ferguson threw an inning and one-third of hitless relief before Dunson pitched a scoreless ninth.
“We pitched out some difficult situations tonight,” said head coach Mike Sansing. “But, we didn’t do anything offensively. We put no pressure on their pitchers and really just didn’t mount any kind of attack.”
Bucky Smith led the Kennesaw State offense with three doubles, but the Owls left 11 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning when Andy Chriscaden struck out swinging on a high fastball. Kennesaw State (10-7) left runners on base in seven of the nine innings.
Will Howard (1-2) extended his hitting streak to 11 games in the fifth inning. With two outs, Smith doubled to right-center field and scored when Howard lined a base hit to right field, cutting the Catamounts lead to three runs. The streak is the second longest this season, next to Ronnie Freeman’s 13-game hitting streak to begin the year.
Adam Curtis (1-0) pitched six and two-third innings for the win. The left-hander allowed one run on seven hits and pitched out jams in the fourth and sixth innings when Kennesaw State put runners on first and second with one out, only to come up empty each time.
Kennesaw State will be back in action on Wednesday afternoon when they host Harvard at 1:00 p.m. in the first game of a day/night doubleheader. The Owls will face Georgia at 6:30 p.m. in the nightcap. The Georgia game is “Leash the Dawgs Night” as the first 200 fans to the game will receive a special Kennesaw State dog leash.
Both games can be followed on live stats as well as live audio. Dave Albert will call the action of both games beginning with the Harvard pre-game show at 12:50 and the Georgia game beginning with the pre-game show at 6:20 p.m.
