By: KSU Sports Information
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. – A day after everything went wrong for the Kennesaw State Owls, everything went right for the Black and Gold on Saturday afternoon as Andy Chriscaden’s solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Owls past Memphis, 2-1, at Stillwell Stadium.
Chriscaden’s opposite field home run was the first the Owls have hit as a team this season and it couldn’t have come at a better time. The junior from Monroe, Wash. has hit safely in his first seven games with the Owls and had his fifth multi-hit game of the year, raising his average to .448 while also leading the team in slugging and on-base percentage.
“You couldn’t ask for anything more from Andy,” said head coach Mike Sansing. “He gave us a huge, huge hit. He stayed with a tough pitch and hit one well to the opposite field. It was a huge pick-me-up.”
Ronnie Freeman, who pushed his hitting streak to 36 games with a double in the first inning, knocked in the game’s first run with a double into the right field corner that scored Sean McClurken. Freeman has hit safely in all seven games this season and enjoys some breathing room with his hitting streak as Chris Baker of Old Dominion went 0-for-4 against Wright State on Saturday to end his streak at 34 games.
Bryan Blough provided a superb performance in the start for Kennesaw State, allowing just two hits and a run over five innings. The senior held Memphis (4-2) hitless over the first four and two-third innings before surrendering a looping double that dropped into left field by Bryan Picou and a run-scoring single by Drew Martinez.
“Bryan’s got tremendous stuff and he started off really well today,” added Sansing. “Early in the game he cruised along, he put us in a great position and then battled in the fifth inning. I was really pleased with his effort.”
The Owls (6-1) bullpen was once again dominant as they allowed just two hits over four innings. Alan Busenitz (1-0) picked up the first win of his Kennesaw State career with another solid outing as he walked one and allowed a hit in three innings. The junior transfer pitched two perfect innings in the sixth and eighth while pitching out of out of a bases-loaded jam in the top of the seventh inning when he struck out Jacob Wilson swinging.
“I told Alan at the beginning of the year that he’ll be in big situations often and again he came up with another strong game,” said Sansing. “It’s a good role for him. He can go deep in middle relief so you should see him excel in this role throughout the season.”
J.B. Johnson earned his second save of the year pitching a scoreless ninth inning as he danced out of trouble after a lead off single by T.J. Rich put the tying run on base. Johnson recovered to get a sacrifice and then struck out Picou. An intentional walk to Martinez was followed by a sharp line drive that was caught by Aaron Dobbs at third base.
The Owls and the Tigers will play the rubber-game of the series on Sunday afternoon with the first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
