May 5, 2007

Box Score

KENNESAW, Ga. -Dan Dale pitched solidly into the eighth inning and Matt Hopkins drove in two runs to lead Kennesaw State to a 5-3 win over Lipscomb and sweep the three-game series from the Bisons.

In what was the story of the weekend for Kennesaw State, the Owls got another strong pitching performance from their starter. Dale (3-3) shut down the Bisons over seven innings before tiring in the top of the eight as the Owls held a 5-0 lead.

The crafty left-hander allowed just six hits through the first seven and one-third innings before giving up three straight singles to Shane Simpkins (1-for-5), Caleb Joseph (1-for-4) and Ryan Wilkins (1-for-4) in the top of the eighth. Dale ended up surrendering three runs and nine hits as he evened his season record.

The pitching over the weekend was superb. After Bubba Blalock shutout Lipscomb on Friday, the Owls allowed just six runs in 27 innings as the completed their second A-Sun series sweep of the year.

The Owls used a five-run fourth inning to support the effort of Dale and Justin Freeman. Clint Roques (2-for-3) drove in the first run with an RBI single and Matt Dallas (1-for-4) followed with a run scoring single for a 2-0 KSU lead.

Roques scored on a throwing error by Lipscomb second baseman Andrew Nickerson after Andrew Martin (1-for-3) reached on an infield single. Hopkins finished the rally with a two-run single up the middle as the Owls built a 5-0 lead.

Freeman pitched an inning and two-thirds to notch his seventh save of the season. The Owls closer allowed a hit and a walk with one strike out.

Kennesaw State will conclude the 2007 regular season with a three-game series against Campbell on May 17-18. The Owls and the Camels will play a 6:00 p.m. single game on Thursday and conclude the season with a doubleheader on Friday afternoon.

Friday's game will be Senior Day. A pre-game ceremony will honor the Class of 2007, which includes Matt Dallas, Cacey Rogers, Dan Dale, Eric Scoggins, Adam Cross, Matt Hopkins and Ray Redden.