By: KSU Sports Information Department
Box Score |
Ronnie Freeman, Baseball America (2/25)
KENNESAW, Ga. – Jordan Craft and Will Howard each hit three-run home runs, but it was Jacob Wilson of Memphis that provided the true fireworks as he homered twice and drove in seven runs to lead the Tigers to a 13-7 defeat of Kennesaw State on Sunday afternoon at Stillwell Stadium.
The Owls (6-2) jumped ahead first as Howard lined a three-run homer over the right center field wall in the bottom of the third inning scoring Andy Chriscaden who singled and Bucky Smith who walked. The blast was the second in three innings for Kennesaw State, who hadn’t homered in the first six games of the year.
Kennesaw State would hold the lead through three innings. Ronnie Freeman extended the nation’s longest hitting streak to 37 games with a single to left field in the third inning. The sophomore would add another a single in the sixth inning as he closes in on the NCAA Division I record of 58 games set in 1987 by Robin Ventura of Oklahoma State.
In the fourth inning, Memphis took control of the game when Wilson hit a three-run home run to center field and Eli Hynes followed with a majestic blast that easily cleared the right field wall for a 4-3 Memphis lead. The Tigers would add on another run in the inning as they made quick work of KSU starter Zak Griffith.
“I feel like we are inconsistent right now,” said head coach Mike Sansing. “After we hit the home run in the second inning we didn’t do anything to put any pressure on their pitcher and after their first big inning we didn’t make it difficult on them at all offensively.”
Memphis (5-2) would add three runs in the seventh and four more on Wilson’s grand slam in the eighth inning as they helped starter Clayton Grant (1-0) get his first win of the year. The Owls managed seven hits over five innings against grant, but couldn’t muster anything aside from Howard’s blast.
Jordan Craft, who entered the game with a 0-for-10 streak to start the season, broke out of his slump in a big way on Sunday going 3-for-4 with two doubles and a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning.
“Jordan had a really good game this afternoon and I am happy to see that,” added Sansing. “He took some really good swings and got himself into the groove today.”
Craft led five Kennesaw State players with multi-hit games including Chriscaden, who hit in his eighth consecutive game and Howard who added a single with his home run. Ethan Herron, who pinch-hit in the eighth inning and stayed in the game at third base, had singles in two at-bats.
The Kennesaw State bullpen was ineffective as all four relievers (Travis Dean, Jeff Brown, Devin Dunson and Catlan Kendrick) allowed at least one run. The foursome allowed eight earned runs on eight hits with six walks and two hit batters in five innings of work.
The Owls will have the week off before hitting the field again on Friday afternoon for the Atlantic Sun Conference opener against the Campbell Camels. The series begins on Friday at 4 p.m. and will conclude on Saturday afternoon with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
