By: by Jason Hanes
NASHVILLE - Ronnie Freeman had three hits to set a new KSU Division I record with a .394 batting average for a season, but the Owls could only get one run on the board as the Kennesaw State baseball team fell to Belmont, 4-1, to bow out of the program's first-ever Atlantic Sun Conference Championships.
Kennesaw State would mount a rally in the ninth inning, getting the tying run to the plate. A two-out double by Bucky Smith - his second of the game - and a walk to Chris Wages brought Will Howard to the plate with an RBI opportunity. Howard would take advantage, blooping a single to right to score Smith and pull KSU within three, 4-1.
That would be the last hit of the season for Kennesaw State, as Sean McClurken grounded out to short to end the contest and bring the curtain down on the season for the Owls.
The Owls had eight hits in the contest, but left nine runners on base. Perhaps the most painful missed opportunity came in the fourth inning when Peyton Hart tripled off the top of the wall to lead off the frame. Hart would end up stranded at third as KSU couldn't move him the needed 90-feet to score. KSU would leave five runners on base in the first four innings of the contest alone.
Belmont would get the only run it needed in the fourth inning when Nate Woods laced a shot into the left field corner, plating Derek Hamblen. Woods would be ruled out at first on an appeal play, but the run counted to give the Bruins the lead, 1-0.
Belmont would add a run in the sixth and two more runs in the eighth to pull away. All four runs would be charged to senior hurler Bryan Blough (4-4), who allowed eight hits but fanned four Bruins batters.
Chase Brookshire (5-4) earned the win in a complete-game effort for the Bruins. Brookshire gave up eight hits and walked three battrs, but maneuvered in and out of trouble throughout the contest.
The loss brings KSU's season to a close with a 32-25 record. KSU qualified for the A-Sun Championships as the No. 3 seed.
