By: KSU Sports Information
Box Score
PANTHERSVILLE, Ga. – The Kennesaw State bats were blazing on Tuesday night as the Owls scored 14 runs for the second time in five games, as they defeated Georgia State, 14-6, at The Field at Panthersville.
Kennesaw State (22-18) pounded out 14 hits in the game and scored in seven of the nine innings as they combined speed and power from the outset en route to winning its second straight non-conference game, while also gaining a split of the season series with the Panthers.
“This was a good win for us tonight,” said head coach Mike Sansing. “We had some good at-bats, took advantage of some walks, pitched well and even though the pace of the game was slow, our guys stayed up. stayed focused and stayed in the game.”
Aaron Dobbs (2-for-3) singled up the middle in the first inning and stole second base on the first pitch to Ronnie Freeman. Dobbs had three steals in the game, matching his season high. The aggressive move worked for the Owls as Freeman singled sharply to left field scoring Dobbs on a head first slide well in front of GSU catcher Shane Hammonds tag.
After Peyton Hart was hit by a pitch, Drew Fowlkes walked to load the bases. Georgia State starter Sam Agnew-Wieland, who lasted just one and two-third innings, couldn’t get out of the jam as he walked Sean McClurken to give the Owls a, 2-0 lead. The Panthers walked 11 batters in the game.
After the Panthers (27-12) answered with two runs in the bottom of the first inning, Kennesaw State took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the top of the second inning. Ray Anderson legged out an infield single to increase his hitting streak to 12 games to start the rally. Dobbs was hit by a pitch to set up Andy Chriscaden, who roped a two-out double to right-center field, giving Owls a, 4-2, lead while chasing Agnew-Wieland.
“It is great to see Andy get back on track,” added Sansing. “He has been hitting the ball well, but had nothing to show for it recently. Tonight things dropped, he hit the ball very hard and had an all-around good game.”
The Owls added a run in he top of the third inning and Georgia State answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning, but would not come any closer to the Owls the remainder of the game as Catlan Kendrick (2-0) began to take over in the fourth inning.
Kendrick won his second straight start as he allowed the Panthers just three earned runs in five innings and matched his season-high with four strikeouts. Senior Jeff Brown pitched three innings of one-hit relief and struck out three batters.
“Catlan threw well and got stronger, especially in the fourth and fifth innings,” said Sansing. “And I thought Jeff really threw well. He was consistantly getting his fastball over and I believe about 80 percent of those were for strikes. He was coming hard and challenging their hitters in every at-bat.”
A three-run, fourth inning increased the Owls lead to four runs as McClurken walked with the bases loaded before Ethan Herron delivered a two-run single to center field. In the fifth, Dobbs, who reached base in five of six at-bats, was again the catalyst as he led off the frame with a single through the right side, stole second base and scored on an error to give the Owls a 9-4 advantage.
“We’ve tried to be aggressive several times this season,” commented Sansing. “Tonight we ran the bases well, had some key steals from Aaron [Dobbs] and everything came together.”
The Owls added three runs in the top of the seventh inning as Chriscaden led off the inning with a single and scored on a Drew Fowlkes base hit to left field. Hart then scored on a wild pitch as Ben Marshall, the Panthers seventh pitcher of the game, relieved in time for McClurken to single to center field, giving the Owls a 12-4 lead.
Chriscaden ended the Owls scoring barrage in the ninth inning with his 10th home run of the season, a moon-shot to straight away center field, capping off a three-hit, four RBI night for the junior first baseman.
The Owls will head to Johnson City, Tenn. for a key three-game series against ETSU beginning on Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. The series will continue on Friday evening at 7:00 p.m. and concludes with a Saturday afternoon game scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
