April 4, 2007

Box Score GALLERY

KENNESAW, Ga. - Martin Baker hit a walk-off, solo home run in the bottom of the 12th inning to give Kennesaw State a 1-0 win over Troy on Wednesday night at Stillwell Stadium.

The Owls (18-12) defeated the Trojans (17-13) for the first-time ever. Kennesaw State snapped a 14-game losing streak to Troy, in the third-longest game in KSU history.

With one out in the bottom of the 12th, Baker launched the first pitch he saw from Neal Jordan (0-1) over the right-center field fence and arrived at home surrounded by a bevy of exuberant teammates. The homer, Baker's first of the season, just cleared the fence and was beyond the reach of Troy right fielder Clint Robinson.

Kennesaw State used seven pitchers in the game and blanked the Trojans on just eight hits. Freshman Kyle Clayton earned the win with two hitless innings of relief and raised his record to 3-0 on the year.

Kyle Muschara started the game and was effective for the Owls. Not scheduled to go more than two innings, Muschara worked into the third before giving way to Justin Edwards who pitched through the fourth inning. Kody Paul threw two innings of hitless relief and was followed by Bubba Blalock (2.2 IP), Justin Freeman (1.1 IP) and Chad Jenkins.

Both teams had opportunities to score throughout the night with the Trojans leaving 16 runners on base while the Owls stranded 12 men. Both teams left the bases loaded late in the game.

Troy loaded the bases in the ninth inning when Beau Brooks doubled to right center field and moved to third on a groundout. After Blalock got Edgar Ramirez to ground back to the box, the Trojans leading hitter, Clint Robinson was intentionally walked.

Freeman came in from the bullpen and hit Matt Tanzi on a 1-2 pitch in which Tanzi checked his swing on a breaking ball that hit the Trojans first baseman in the side. Kevin Weidlich then sliced a line drive to second base that the Owls Tyler Stubblefield snared falling on one knee to end the threat.

Kennesaw State would threaten in the bottom of the tenth inning, loading the bases on walks to Baker, Jace Whitmer (intentional) and Adam Cross before Matt Dallas struck out swinging on a 2-2 pitch.

The 12-inning affair was the third longest in school history. The Owls played a 14-inning game against Montreat in 1996 and a 13-inning game against Central Missouri State in the 2003 NCAA Division II World Series.

Kennesaw State will head to Johnson City, Tenn. to play ETSU in a three-game weekend series. The Owls and the Buccaneers will play a single game at 7:00 p.m. on Friday before finishing the series with a Saturday afternoon doubleheader.