By: by Jason Hanes
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Peyton Hart's grand slam with two men out in the ninth proved to be the difference as Kennesaw State's baseball team scored six runs in the final frame to defeat Jacksonville, 9-7, in the finale of a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series. In the first game Saturday, the Owls saw a, 7-1, lead evaporate into an 8-7 loss.
In the finale, the Owls trailed 7-1 entering the seventh inning, but the Black and Gold began to chip away at the lead. Ray Anderson's two-out single back up the middle scored Sean McClurken to bring KSU back within five, 7-2. Leading off the eighth inning, Drew Fowlkes struck for his team-leading 10th home run of the season to pull KSU within four.
The Owls continued their rally in the ninth, as McClurken singled and Tyler Stubblefield walked on four pitches to start the inning. After a pitching change by the Dolphins, a passed ball put runners moved the two runners ahead 90-feet for pinch hitter Jordan Craft. The sophomore delivered with a two-run single to plate both men and bring KSU within two, 7-5.
Still, there was work to be done as the next two batters were retired, putting KSU down to its last out. None of the remaining KSU batters would face a two-strike count, as KSU battled at the plate. First, Ronnie Freeman singled through the right side to put the tying run on base. With Brandon Brown pinch running at first, Clint Roques was hit by a pitch, loading the bases for Hart. On an 0-1 count, the freshman delivered, uncorking a grand slam over the wall in left and touching off a huge celebration for the Owls as KSU gained the lead, 9-7.
Brad Long would earn the save in relief of Brandon Blough, who pitched the eighth inning in picking up the win. Zak Griffith, making his first A-Sun start of the season, pitched seven innings and allowed seven runs (five earned) in seven innings of work.
In the first game of the doubleheader, the Owls played long ball in jumping out to a 7-1 lead after three innings. Freeman and Hart both had two-run home runs as part of a six-run third inning, with Josh Whitaker picking up an RBI single to boot.
However, the Dolphins would answer with six runs of their own in the fifth. Alex Martinez connected on a three-run home run, with Jimmy Howick tacking on a two-run blast later in the frame.
In the sixth, the Dolphins would score what proved to be the game-winning run as Howick connected for a round tripper off a 1-2 offering from J.B. Johnson (5-1) to lead off the sixth. That proved to be the difference in the contest, as Johnson allowed only one other hit, but JU starter Matt Tomshaw (6-1) retired 17 of the final 18 batters he faced in earning the complete game win.
The Owls now sit at 9-12 in the A-Sun and 20-27 overall. JU slipped into sixth in the A-Sun with an 11-9 mark in conference play and a 22-21 overall record.
KSU will face Troy on the road in Troy, Ala., this Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. CDT before heading to USC Upstate for a crucial A-Sun series next Friday and Saturday in Spartanburg, S.C.
