By: KSU Sports Information
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KENNESAW, Ga. – It would take 10 innings, but the Kennesaw State baseball team would get a walk off single from senior Aaron Dobbs to give the Owls a 5-4 win and a series victory over the Georgia State Panthers.
The Owls struck first in the bottom of the second inning when Chris McGowan earned a base on balls and scored on an error by the shortstop to take the lead 1-0.
It took Georgia State 10 batters before the Panthers got their first runner on base as Kody Adams walked. Running on the next pitch, Adams advanced to third on a slow infield roller to second by Drew Shields. With runners on the corners and only one out, Joel Van Aush grounded to the pitcher. Unable to turn the double play, Adams scored from third and tied the game 1-1.
The Panthers would get three more runs in the fifth inning on a couple of botched plays by the Owls. Two runs scored on a high double lifted off the bat of Adams, as a double steal by Adams later in the inning and a throwing error by Max Pentecost would give the Panthers a 4-1 advantage.
Kennesaw would get all three runs back in the bottom half of the fifth, courtesy of two errors by the Panthers defense. Peyton Hart scored on the first error by the second baseman, and Ronnie Freeman and Andy Chriscaden scored on a double laced into centerfield by McGowan that tied the game, 4-4.
Each team would remain scoreless through the end of regulation, forcing extra innings, as James Connell kept the Panthers at bay, giving the Owls an opportunity in the 10th inning.
McGowan would lead of the inning with a walk, followed by Will Howard being hit by a pitch. With runners on first and second, pinch hitter Ethan Herron loaded the bases on a fielding error by the first baseman. Preseason All Atlantic Sun Conference Honoree Aaron Dobbs would come to the plate with one out. On a 2-0 pitch, the senior roped a single through the second and first base hole to score the game winning run.
“We had guys in scoring position all day, we just couldn’t score,” head coach Mike Sansing said. “We hit the ball well and our pitching did a great job in the ladder innings of the game to put up zeros and give us a chance.”
The Owls stranded 13 batters in the game, having runners reach scoring position in all of the first eight innings. Offensive leaders in the game were Dobbs with three hits and one RBI, while McGowan totaled one hit, two RBI and two runs scored.
Connell picked up his second win of the season with two innings pitched, allowing zero earned runs and only giving up one hit. Connell and the bullpen combined to only allow two hits from the sixth inning on. Starter Steve Janas would throw 5.2 innings allowing four runs on five hits and recorded five strikeouts.
Game three of the series is slated for Sunday at 2:00 p.m. E.T., at Stillwell Stadium, as junior Kevin Kyle will be on the mound for the Owls.
Promotions
The Kennesaw State Athletic Department is sponsoring a canned food drive to support the tornado victims of Paulding County. Any fan that brings two canned food items will receive free admission to Sunday’s home game this weekend. Also at Sunday’s game will be Sundae Fun-day, as all kids, 8th grade and under will receive a free ice cream sundae.
Follow The Owls
Live audio of the game can be heard on KSU All Access, as Nathan McCreary and Ben Poplin will be describing all the action. Live stats will be available at KSUOwls.com. For updates throughout the weekend, you can follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlsBaseball.
