THE BASICS
Records: Kennesaw State (16-18, 5-2), Stetson (15-21, 5-2)
Score: Kennesaw State 4, Stetson 2
Starting Pitching Matchup: RHP Brooks Wilson vs. RHP Tony Dibrell
Key Players: Jake Franklin (2-for-4, RBI), Jeremy Howell (3-for-5), Grant Williams (2-for-5, RBI), David Chabut (1-for-4, RBI), Tony Dibrell (4-2, CG, 6K)
 
Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (XML)
 
THE STORYLINE: 
· Clutch hitting and a masterful performance by Tony Dibrell allowed Kennesaw State to defeat host Stetson at Melching Field in the ASUN series-opener Thursday night by a 4-2 final.
· Dibrell (4-2) tossed a complete game for the second consecutive week, out-dueling Hatters' ace Brooks Wilson, and the offense scored four runs over the final four frames to come from behind to top Stetson.
· With the win, KSU improved to 5-2 overall in league play and 16-18 overall, while the Hatters dropped to 5-2 in league play and 15-21 overall.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
· On a night that quickly became a matchup of starting aces on the bump, the Owls' late-inning offense backed the right arm of Dibrell to come out on top.
· Brooks, who entered the game leading the nation in total strikeouts, kept Kennesaw State scoreless over the first five innings of play, and finished the ballgame allowing three earned runs on 11 hits in 7.2 innings of work.
· The Owls placed runners on base in four straight innings, but Brooks kept the bats quiet until Jake Franklin's RBI single in the sixth deadlocked the ballgame at 1-1, snapping five straight scoreless offensive frames.
· The Black and Gold countered with Dibrell, an Alpharetta, Ga., native, who out-worked Wilson allowing just two earned runs on 10 scattered hits –including three straight scoreless frames to end the ballgame.
· Dibrell's hard work on the mound allowed KSU to claw back into the ballgame as it knocked four straight two-out hits, including RBI singles by David Chabut and Grant Williams, to take their first lead of the game at 3-2 in the eighth frame.
· KSU added insurance in the ninth when pinch-hitter Garrett Hodges was hit by a pitch with bases loaded to take a two-run lead into the final three outs.
· The right arm of the junior closed things out and finished his complete game working out of a jam in the bottom half of the ninth to pick up his fourth victory of the season.
 
#NESTNOTES: 
· Chris Erwin extended his hitting streak to nine games with a single through the right side in the top of the fourth inning.
· Taylor Allum walked in the fourth inning Thursday evening, extending his streak to 28 straight games of reaching base safely. The KSU D-I record is 36 games by Max Pentecost in 2014.
· Kennesaw State totaled 10 or more hits in a ballgame for the 21st time in 34 contests.
 
UP NEXT
Kennesaw State continues its Easter weekend in DeLand, Fla., taking on Stetson in the second game of the ASUN series Friday, April 14 evening. The Owls and Hatters are scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m., and will air live on ESPN3.