By: KSU Sports Information
Box Score I
Live Stats
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Kennesaw State baseball team came all the way back from a 9-1 deficit, but couldn’t hold the lead late as it fell to USC Upstate, 12-11, on Saturday night at Harley Park.
The loss drops the Owls (29-21, 13-10 A-Sun) to fourth place in the conference standings with four A-Sun games remaining, and the game also marked the first time that KSU has lost this season when scoring 10 or more runs.
USC Upstate (33-15, 16-7 A-Sun) jumped all over KSU starter
Travis Dean in the first inning as the Spartans took control early on batting around in the top of the first scoring six runs on seven hits.
Trailing 9-1 after four innings, the Black and Gold began their comeback in the top of the fifth as
Aaron Dobbs led off the frame with a double to left center. After back-to-back singles, including an RBI single by
Andy Almonte,
Ronnie Freeman blasted a three-run homerun to left field making the score, 9-5. After a USC Upstate error, and a
Peyton Hart RBI single, the inning ended with KSU scoring eight runs on six hits to tie the game at, 9-9.
Kennesaw State took its first lead of the game in the top of the seventh inning as
Jordan Craft hit a one-out single, and was driven in by a Dobbs double. The Owls added to its lead as Dobbs crossed the plate after an RBI single by Hart making the score, 11-9.
However, the KSU bullpen couldn’t make the lead stick as USC Upstate got to Owls pitcher
Kevin McCoy for three runs on three hits in the bottom of the eighth as the Spartans re-took the lead for good at 12-11.
The Black and Gold went down in order in the top of the ninth to end the game.
The rubber game of the three-game series will start at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon as Kennesaw State will give the ball to its ace in
Josh Carr (8-2, 3.87). For updates throughout the game, you can follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlsBaseball.
