By: KSU Sports Information Department
Box Score
STATESBORO, Ga. – Georgia Southern broke open a 2-2 game with a six-run, eighth inning as the Eagles snapped Kennesaw State’s four-game winning streak, 8-2, on Tuesday evening at J.I. Clements Stadium.
Things began well enough in the bottom of the eighth inning as Kennesaw State’s Alan Busenitz, who pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the bottom of the seventh inning, got Victor Roache to fly to center field for the first out. Andy Moye (3-for-4) then drove a 2-2 pitch up the middle and Tom Richardson followed with another single up the middle. A passed ball moved the runners over and Busenitz walked Pugh on five pitches to load the bases.
Andrew Austin entered the game and struck out Arthur Owens looking on a full count. Things then turned in hurry as Austin hit Payne with a pitch, making the score, 3-2. The Eagles followed with an infield hit by Michael Burruss and a bunt single from Eric Phillips before a walk to Steve Cochrane made the score, 6-2. A third infield, a dribbler to shortstop by Roache was followed by a Moye line drive base hit to center field to cap the six-run frame.
Errors were the name of the game early as Georgia Southern (13-9) and Kennesaw State combined to make five errors that led to four unearned runs as the teams were tied through seven and one-half innings.
A sacrifice fly in the bottom of the first inning gave Georgia Southern a 1-0 lead as an error by Aaron Dobbs led to a sacrifice fly to left field by Cochrane. The Owls answered back with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the second inning. Drew Fowlkes (2-for-4) stroked a one-out double down the left field and walks to Peyton Hart (2-for-3) and Jordan Craft loaded the bases with two outs. Ray Anderson grounded to Phillips at shortstop, who misplayed the ball scoring Fowlkes and Hart and giving the Owls a 2-1 lead.
Kennesaw State (14-9) would hold onto the lead until the bottom of the sixth inning when Georgia Southern would tie the game on another unearned run. Travis Dean, who cruised through six innings of three-hit ball, allowed a one-out single to Cochrane. After a groundout and a passed ball moved the tying run to third base. Dean walked Moye and a failed pickoff attempt resulted in an error by Andy Chriscaden, scoring the game-tying run.
Dean gave up just three singles and did not allow an earned run over six innings. The freshman struck out five batters and walked three, leaving after walking the leadoff hitter in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Owls put two runners on base in the seventh inning, and a wild pitch moved Freeman and Fowlkes to second and third, but Hart grounded out to shortstop on a 3-1 pitch to end the inning. The Black and Gold stranded two runners in four different innings, but were retired in order in the eighth and ninth innings.
Kennesaw State will be back in action tomorrow evening when they take on Georgia State at Stillwell Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and can be followed via live stats. The game can also be heard at www.ksuowls.com with Jason Hanes calling the action beginning with the pregame show at 5:50 p.m.
