May 20, 2005

Box Score

JACKSONVILE, Fla. (May 20, 2005) - Kennesaw State rallied for four runs in the bottom of the 11th inning on Friday night to send top-seeded and host North Florida into the loser's bracket of the 2005 NCAA South Atlantic Regional with a 10-9 win.

The Owls (37-20) tied the game in the bottom of the ninth with a run and then capped their comeback with their 11th-inning rally after UNF (42-15) scored three runs in the top of the inning to move ahead.

Adrian Colton delivered the game-tying double with one out in the 11th before Kevin Gergel brought home the winning run with a sacrifice fly to left. Jay Morrow scored the winner, beating Kevin Johnson's throw from left.

UNF took the lead in the top of the 11th inning when Mike Fryrear grounded a two-out single to left to score Matt Oxendine. Brennan Grogan followed with an RBI double that drove home Damon Olinto and Fryrear.

Josh Papelbon (7-3) couldn't get through his fourth inning of work in the 11th after surrendering a walk to Morrow. Papelbon gave way to his brother, Jeremy, who gave up the game-tying double and the final run of the ball game.

Kennesaw State threatened to end the contest in the bottom of the ninth inning after scoring a run on a Ryan Perry squeeze bunt that brought home Andy Hudson thanks to a Marion Knowles error. After an intentional walk to Scott Hendrix loaded the bases, Travis King grounded into a double play that ended the inning.

The teams traded punches in the first four innings of play with Kennesaw scoring single runs in the first and second before adding two runs off of Ryan Amason in the third to tie the game 4-4.

UNF put together a two-out rally in the top of the fourth when Knowles doubled to right-center, driving home a pair runs. Oxendine and Kevin Johnson followed with back-to-back walks to load bases before lightning and rain delayed the game for one hour and 12 minutes.

UNF's Judd Loveland and KSU righthander Corey Hill had the entire rain delay to think about the bases- loaded situation. Hill came out on the upper end of the battle, striking out Loveland looking on a 3-2 pitch. UNF stranded 14 runners on the night, leaving the bases loaded twice.

Jeremy Brotherton led KSU with a 4-for-6 afternoon at the plate, while Hendrix and Colton each collected a pair of hits. Colton led all players with three RBIs.

His performance drew a large shadow over Knowles and his 5-for-6 performance at the plate that included two runs and two RBIs. Josh Howard and Grogan had three hits for UNF, while Sadry Café homered to left to lead off the third inning.

With the win, Kennesaw State advanced to the South Atlantic Regional final and will take on the winner of Friday night's contest between USC Aiken and UNF.

Postgame Quotes

Kennesaw State
Corey Hill:
"This game says a lot about our team. It showed that we have a lot of heart, and we don't give up. We were down and showed character and heart more than anything."

"I knew that there was a chance that I could get in in relief, but didn't think that the game would last that long. Each pitcher was prepared mentally and physically today and it showed."

Adrian Colton:
"I said a prayer before the at bat, and he did it all for me. It was an outside fastball [that I hit for the double]. We were out there for a long time tonight, so winning was a big relief. I am happy that I got a chance and I came through. I couldn't let my team down with this being my last season."

KSU Coach Mike Sansing:
"Unbelievable game, back and forth all night. Each team did everything it could. I admire our team coming back from three down in the 11th. North Florida is always a tough game. We have battled these guys for years. There was no magic, we just were able to get it done. Corey was unbelievable, especially in the situation he was put in. Bases loaded after a long rain delay, that set the tone for the game for us."

North Florida

UNF coach Dusty Rhodes:
On Josh Papbelbon:
"We use him in short situations. He isn't used to throwing over 50 pitches. Kennesaw played great, they had no errors. Their pitchers all battled."

Marion Knowles:
"Its not going to be hard to rebound for tonight's game [against USC Aiken], we have to make it to tomorrow. You can never take anything for granted, that's baseball."