By: KSU Sports Information Department
Game 1 Box |
Game 2 Box
KENNESAW, Ga. – Ronnie Freeman extended his nation’s longest hitting streak to 40 games with two hits in both ends of a doubleheader as Kennesaw State concluded its sweep of Campbell, 5-4 and 13-8, on Sunday afternoon at Stillwell Stadium.
The Owls (9-2, 3-0 A-Sun) took the opener as they twice rallied back from deficits, and then used an eight-run third inning to overcome a 3-1 deficit and take the nightcap. The series sweep was the first conference opening sweep in the Division I era and also marked the first A-Sun series sweep since the Owls beat Mercer three straight in the 2009 season.
Campbell (6-6, 0-3 A-Sun) jumped out to a 2-0 first inning lead in the opener as they got to starter Bryan Blough who pitched five innings in the no-decision. Aaron Dobbs’ two-run single in the third inning tied the game and Freeman’s RBI single up the middle gave the Owls a 3-2 lead.
Blough labored through the fourth inning, allowing three singles to load the bases with nobody out. He then induced Ryne Briley to ground to shortstop in what appeared to be a double play that scored the tying run. However, interference was called on Campbell’s Cameron Nelson who was at first base, moving the runners back to second and third and erasing what would have been the game-tying run.
The Owls fortunes were short lived as Campbell’s Kyle Holmstrom and Ellis Lowe hit back-to-back doubles to lead off the fifth inning, tying the game. Bryce Grady later doubled to right-center field to give the Camels a 4-3 lead.
Bucky Smith once again proved to be the spark the Owls needed as he led off the seventh inning with a walk. Smith, who missed the first five games of the season, has reached base in nine of 20 at-bats this year and has scored seven runs in his last five games.
Jordan Craft followed with a single and after Sean McClurken put down a perfect sacrifice bunt, Smith tied the game as he scampered home on a wild pitch by Colin Parker. Aaron Dobbs drove in his third run of the game with a sacrifice fly to right center field.
J.B. Johnson pitched a perfect ninth inning for his third save of the year, tying him with Jon Ivie of Belmont, as Alan Busenitz (2-0) notched his second win of the season with three innings of one-hit relief.
In the second game, Will Howard had three hits and Craft, Freeman and Peyton Hart each had two hits to pace a 14-hit attack as Zac Griffith (2-1) won his second game of the season.
After an eight-run third inning gave the Owls a 9-3 lead, the Owls had to fight off a pesky Campbell rally that produced three runs in the sixth and two more in the top of the seventh as they closed a 10-3 runaway into a nail biter. Kennesaw State added insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh and eight innings to secure the win.
Andrew Austin pitched the final two innings, retiring six straight batters, three by strikeout as he extended his scoreless streak to five and one-third innings.
The Owls will be back in action on Tuesday evening when they travel to Atlanta to begin a five-game road trip against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. First-pitch is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and can be heard live at www.ksuowls.com. Dave Albert will call the action beginning with the pregame show at 5:50 p.m.
