By: KSU Sports Information
Bradley Game Box Score I
Virginia Tech Game Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State baseball team dropped two close one run games to both Bradley University and Virginia Tech on opening day.
In game one of the Friday night double-header versus Bradley, the Owls jumped out to the games first lead as center fielder Will Howard dropped a double into center field. After advancing to third on a Peyton Hart flyout, the senior scored on a Max Pentecost ground out.
Starting pitcher Josh Carr got touched up in the fourth when the Braves struck back with three runs as all five of the first batters in the inning reached base successfully. After two back-to-back doubles, shortstop Jason Lebleijian tied the game 1-1 with an RBI double.
Following a walk to load the bases, Bob Schuch gave the Braves the lead after an Andy Almonte error with Jerrod Eigsti plating one more before the Black and Gold got out of the inning down 3-1. In the fifth inning the Braves Max Murphy unleashed a towering bomb that gave Bradley a 4-1 lead.
The Owls fought back and whittled away at the Braves lead as they scored one run in the sixth inning and another in the seventh. In the sixth inning Freeman reached on a walk and advanced to second on a Howard single before scoring on an RBI single by Hart, while Andy Almonte tallied a solo homerun in the seventh to tighten the score 4-3.
In the eighth and ninth innings, the Owls struggled to find their offense as they went six up and six down to fall 4-3 in their season opener.
Against ACC representative Virginia Tech, the squad fell 3-2. After taking another early lead off single runs scored by Howard in the second and Ethan Herron in the fifth inning, the Owls saw the Hokies’ bats come alive.
After a pitcthing change and subbing Caden Ferguson for starter Steve Janas, the Owls opened the sixth inning with an error before Ronnie Shaban doubled to put runners on second and third with no outs. Andrew Rash then grounded out to Hart at short to score the Hokies first run, followed by a sacrifice fly by Johnny Morales that scored Shaban.
The game remained tied 2-2 until the bottom of the ninth when Jake Atwell reached on a two-out single that was trailed by a Chad Pinder RBI double off the left field wall. The 3-2 advantage for Virginia Tech was their first lead of the game, and after a double-play line drive hit by Jordan Craft, the Owls fell 3-2 to open the season 0-2.
The team will return to action on Sunday at 11 a.m. when they play game one of the Sunday double-header against Bradley. Game two versus Virginia Tech will follow at 3 p.m.
On Sunday, the first 100 fans will receive a free biscuit from Waffle House. All fans are reminded that this is youth baseball weekend, and all players who wear their jersey or fans that bring their church bulletin to the game will receive free admission.
Game 3 • Sunday • 11 a.m. • at Bradley
Bradley: Tory Doerr (Sr., LHP, 2-4, 4.14 ERA in 2011) KSU: Kevin Kyle (Jr., LHP, 4-1, 3.06 ERA at Ga. Perimeter)
Game 4 • Sunday • 3 p.m. • at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech: Marc Zecchino (Sr., RHP, 6-5, 4.66 ERA in 2011) KSU: Alan Busenitz (Sr., RHP, 2-2, 6.83 ERA in 2011)
