By: KSU Sports Information
Box Score
KENNESAW, Ga. – The Kennesaw State baseball team used a five-run fifth inning to rally back from a two-run deficit and hung on for a 5-3 win over Jacksonville State on Tuesday night at Stillwell Stadium.
The Owls improve to 23-16 with the win, while the loss drops the Gamecocks to 14-21. The victory also gives KSU the season series over JSU, 3-1.
Rain delayed the start of the game for about 50 minutes, and it seemed to take the KSU offense even longer to find its rhythm. Over the first seven innings the Black and Gold could only manage five hits, and all five base knocks were singles.
Kennesaw State starting pitcher freshman
Nathan Harsh did an excellent job of keeping his team in the game during that stretch as he went five innings giving up only one run on two hits. The Brunswick, Ga. native also struck out five and walked five in his fourth start of his collegiate career.
Trailing 2-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth, the Owls offense finally came to life. Junior
Ronnie Freeman started the inning off with a one-out single through the left side. That set up the stage for senior
Andy Chriscaden to provide the fireworks, and he didn’t disappoint blasting a homerun to right center to tie the game at 2-2. Senior
Ethan Herron put KSU in front for good later on in the inning as he hit a RBI single to centerfield scoring freshman
Max Pentecost. Two more RBI singles from senior
Jordan Craft and junior
Andy Almonte made the score 5-2 after eight innings. Kennesaw State scored five runs on seven hits in the inning.
Freshman
Colton Cross eventually picked up his third win of the season for the Owls as he pitched four innings of work, while striking out six.
Kennesaw State returns to action tomorrow evening as it will host in-state rival Mercer with a scheduled start time of 5 p.m. Wednesday evening also marks the 5th Annual Student Crawfish Boil. The event will feature 375 pounds of fresh Louisiana Crawfish, 100 pounds of potatoes, 300 ears of corn and six pans of jambalaya. Sponsors are KSU Athletics, KSU housing and residence life and SGA.
