By: by Jason Hanes
ATHENS, Ga. - Peyton Hart went 4-for-5 with three RBIs as Kennesaw State earned its third win all-time at Foley Field with an 11-1 victory over Georgia Tuesday evening. The win gives the Owls victories over two different Southeastern Conference programs within four days.
A seven-run third inning, in which the Owls sent 11 men to the plate, proved to be the big difference in the contest. With two men on and one man out, Tyler Stubblefield singled into left, scoring Jordan Craft with the first run of the inning. A walk to Josh Whitaker loaded the bases for the Owls, and KSU would take full advantage. Drew Fowlkes earned his 11th RBI of the season with a bases loaded walk, chasing UGA starter Eric Swegman (0-1) in the process.
Two batters later, Clint Roques drove in a run when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Needing a hit to break the game open, the Owls got two. Ross Tendler singled into left field, scoring two men to give KSU a 5-0 lead. With two men in scoring position, Hart singled for the second time in the inning, this time driving in two more runs to cap KSU's 7-run inning.
Georgia (6-7) answered with a solo home run by Cooper Moseley in the bottom of the inning, but that would prove to be the only run of the game for the home team. Southpaw starter Zak Griffith (1-1) went five solid innings, allowing just four hits and the lone run before giving way to Jeff Brown. Brown earned the rare four-inning save - his second save on the year - as he allowed just two hits over the final 12 outs of the contest.
While the Black and Gold's pitchers were keeping the Bulldogs off the scoreboard, the hitters kept tacking on runs one at a time. Hart drove in his third run of the game in the fifth with a single to right, plating Fowlkes. One inning later, the Owls took advantage of a UGA error as Whitaker came home to score on a throwing error by the Bulldogs shortstop. In the eighth, Ronnie Freeman drove in his team-best 12th run of a game with a single to right, plating Whitaker again. Finally in the ninth, Stubblefield tripled into left, bringing home Sean McClurken with the final run of the game.
Over three games against SEC foes this season, KSU has allowed just six runs in 29 innings. Over their last five games, Owls pitchers have posted an ERA of 3.13
Previously, Kennesaw State had won during the 2007 and 2008 seasons at Foley Field; however, they have not been able to top UGA at Stillwell Stadium. The Owls will have their chance to do just that Wednesday afternoon, with first pitch scheduled for 5 p.m., weather permitting.
