By: by Jason Hanes
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - Kennesaw State baseball's chances of making the Atlantic Sun Conference Championships took a hit Friday night as the Owls' rally from a 6-0 deficit fell one run short. KSU dropped a 6-5 decision to USC Upstate at Harley Park Friday evening.
The Owls were in a 4-0 hole after the first inning as a grand slam by Austin Liput put KSU in a bad spot early. Two more Spartans came home in the fourth as Austin Moyer connected on a two-run home run to give the home team the six run advantage.
KSU (20-29, 9-13) began to rally in the top of the fifth, pushing four men across the plate. An RBI single by Sean McClurken plated the first run for the Owls. Two batters later with two men on, Bucky Smith connected for a three-run home run, getting the Owls back in the game, 6-4.
In the sixth, a leadoff double by Peyton Hart paid off two batters later when McClurken shot a single back up the middle to score the redshirt freshman and bring KSU within a run, 6-5.
That would prove to be as close as the Owls could get. The Owls would get runners to second and third with two men out in the eighth after Hart doubled for his third hit of the game, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ross Tendler, and Tyler Stubblefield walked and stole second for his 20th stolen base on the season in 20 tries. However, the bat would be taken out of Smith's hands as Hart was picked off third to end the final scoring threat for the Owls.
Freshman Ronnie Freeman had a pair of hits, extending his streak to 23 straight games with a hit. The streak is now the longest single-season streak for the Owls since moving to Division I. The freshman joined Hart, Smith, McClurken, Stubblefield, and Josh Whitaker as Owls with multi-hit games.
Ryan Rodebaugh (4-6) was saddled with the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) in 5.2 innings of action. The junior threw 110 pitches over that stretch, striking out five Spartans and walking two.
Matt Branham (5-3) worked seven innings, allowing five runs on 11 hits while fanning eight to pick up the win.
The two teams will continue their series Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.
