By: by Jason Hanes
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. - Freshman Ronnie Freeman's two-run home run extended his hitting streak to 16 games, but it wasn't enough as the Kennesaw State Owls baseball team fell to their in-state rival, the Mercer Bears, 5-2, on Friday night at Stillwell Stadium in the opener of an Atlantic Sun Conference series.
"We had our chances, but we couldn't get a big hit when we needed it," said Owls head coach Mike Sansing. "We gave up too many baserunners and really couldn't stay aggressive on the mound."
Kennesaw State starter Ryan Rodebaugh (3-5) danced in and out of trouble in the first three innings, allowing eight Mercer runners. However, the righty was able to strand all of them, and then got some run support with Freeman's round-tripper off the scoreboard in right center field in the second.
Mercer got on the board in the fourth as Jacob Tanis doubled down the third base line to plate their first run of the game. For Tanis, it was his nation-leading 72nd RBI of the season. Two batters later, a two-run single by Michael Langley gave the Bears a, 3-2, lead.
The Bears (26-20, 10-9) would tack on one run apiece in the fifth and sixth, with the run in the sixth coming on a solo home run to left center by Langley.
The Owls (18-24, 7-9) threatened in the sixth and seventh innings, getting the tying run to the plate in both. It was not to be, however, as they left two men stranded to end the frames.
Matt McCall (4-2) earned the win for Mercer with six and one-third innings of work, allowing two runs on four hits. Rodebaugh took the loss for the Owls, giving up five runs on 10 hits in six innings of action, striking out seven.
The two teams will return to action tomorrow with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Stillwell Stadium.
