By: KSU Sports Information
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. – Josh Carr pitched a two-hit, complete game shutout to lead Kennesaw State past USC Upstate, 10-0, on Friday night at Stillwell Stadium.
Carr (4-5) was in complete control of the Spartans as he allowed only first inning and eighth inning singles, walked just three batters and struck out a season-high eight batters.
“Josh really pitched well tonight,” said Kennesaw State head coach Mike Sansing. “He struggled a bit with his breaking ball early in the game, but recovered well and was able to dominate the later innings.”
The Owls third shutout of the year came after a rough first inning for Carr as the right-hander walked two batters and allowed an infield hit by Austin Liput to load the bases with two outs. He pitched out of the threat when he induced Tyler Cook to ground out to third base.
Kennesaw State (25-20, 12-9 A-Sun) gave Carr a four-run cushion in the first inning when Sean McClurken, who extended his hitting streak to nine games, led off with a double down the right field line and scored one batter later on a Ronnie Freeman RBI-single to right field, the first of four consecutive hits for the Owls.
Andy Chriscaden drove in his 56th run of the year with a single to left field and scored on a Peyton Hart double before Ethan Herron made the score, 4-0, with a run-scoring single to left field.
The Black and Gold added solo runs in the second and third innings. Chriscaden lined a two-out double to the wall in left field scoring McClurken in the second inning and an error in the third inning gave the Owls a, 6-0, lead.
Carr cruised through the rest of the game, retiring the Spartans (14-31, 7-13 A-Sun) in order in the second, fifth, seventh and ninth innings. The junior was so overwhelming that both of the hits he surrendered did not get out of the infield.
After stranding three runners in the first inning, Carr allowed base runners in the third, fourth and sixth innings, but none of the runners advanced past first base as he gave the Owls their third shutout of the season.
“I really didn’t have my breaking ball working early and I just had to rely on my fastball and good location,” said Carr. “About halfway through the game is when my breaking ball began to work well.”
A four-run, eighth inning concluded the scoring for Kennesaw State as Aaron Dobbs hit a sacrifice fly for the first run, Hart’s bases-loaded walk scored the second run of the inning and Herron’s two-run single capped the frame.
Kennesaw State and USC Upstate will conclude their series with a Saturday afternoon doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Prior to the game, former Kennesaw State All-American and Texas Rangers outfielder Jason Jones will present Freeman with a plaque honoring his school record, 42-game hitting streak.
