Baseball Wins in Extra at Kennesaw State
4/23/2008 4:22:00 AM | Baseball
KENNESAW,
David Richardson (Dahlonega/Lumpkin County) battled back from a 2-2 count against Michael Bohana to lead off the 11th with a walk. Brian Pierce (Roswell/Roswell) squared around to bunt but took a four-pitch walk. Two batters later Wright hit a line drive down the left field line, plating both for the eventual game-winning runs.
Blake Nation (Brooks/Starr's Mill) in his fourth inning of work retired the first two batters before Jay Morrow lined a single. Clint Roques sent a shot to shallow right field but Phillip Porter (Marietta/Sprayberry) made a sliding grab to end the game.
The Owls (21-22) put the first two runners of the second inning in scoring position after a hit batter and double. Aaron Eubanks (Moultrie/Colquitt County) got two infield pop-ups but KSU plated two runs on consecutive RBI singles from Tyler Stubblefield and Jacob Robbins.
The Eagles extended their lead to 4-2 in the sixth. A.J. Wirnsberger (
Justin Davis (Pulaski/Metter) pitched a solid fifth inning but Kennesaw got a double and single to start the sixth. Head coach Rodney Hennon brought in A.J. Gilbert (Marietta/Kell). The sophomore lefty struck out Drew Fowlkes but walked Stubblefield to load the bases. Robbins lined a shot but Southwell made a game-changing, diving stop at first base. He popped up and threw home in time for the force out, saving at least two if not all three runs on the play. Bucky Smith hit a grounder to Bowles at second base for the inning-ending force out.
Kennesaw threatened again in the seventh. A leadoff double and infield single put runners at first and second, prompting coach Hennon to bring in Tony Chisman (Conyers/Salem). Jace Whitmer was retired on a flyball. Jerome Wooley lined a shot to Wirnsberger at third. He threw over to Bowles to double off Ric Bishop at second base to end the frame.
In the eighth KSU worked two leadoff walks off Chisman as coach Hennon brought in Nation. Stubblefield tried bunting with two strikes but it went foul for a strikeout. After a wild pitch advanced the runners, Robbins scored a run on a groundout but Nation struck out Smith to end the threat.
Nation picked up the first two outs of the ninth on a groundout and strikeout. He hit Whitmer then uncorked a wild pitch letting pinch-runner Roques to second. Pinch-hitter Martin Baker lined a 1-2 pitch into right field for a game-tying single. He tried stealing second but catcher Jeremiah Parker (Carrollton/Carrollton) nailed him to send it to extra innings.
For the fourth time in six games, and fifth overall, Wright drove in three runs. He added three hits, including two doubles. Porter added two infield singles and a RBI.
Eubanks allowed just two runs on six hits in four innings. Nation (2-3) pitched a career-high four innings and struck out a career-best six batters. He allowed one run on two hits.
GS improved to 2-1 in extra-inning games this season.
Four Owls had two hits apiece and Robbins drove in two. Bohana (2-3) allowed two runs on one hit in three innings. He struck out five and walked two. Starter Kenny Faulk gave up a leadoff single to Wright for the only hit allowed in four innings, retiring the final 11 Eagles he faced in order.
