By: KSU Sports Information
Box Score
Live Stats I
All Access I
A-Sun TV I
ESPN3 Coverage
DELAND, Fla. – The Kennesaw State baseball team scored four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to eliminate Stetson and advance to the 2012 Atlantic Sun Championship round with a 5-4 victory over the Hatters.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Owls’ two, three and four hitters all reached successfully to open the frame. Peyton Hart started the rally with a single, followed by walks to Andy Almonte and Ronnie Freeman. With bases loaded, Andy Chriscaden cut the deficit to two with an RBI single to right center that scored Hart from third and made it a 4-2 game.
Still with no outs in the inning, A-Sun All Freshman Team selection Max Pentecost came through with the biggest hit in his young collegiate career. The freshman laced a base- clearing double into right centerfield that put the Black and Gold on top for the first time in the game, 5-4. The double was the team's 100th of the season.
The Owls (33-24) fell behind early as the hometown Stetson Hatters (35-23) struck for two runs in the opening frame. Belting four hits to open the contest, Mark Jones and Mitch Brennan had back-to-back RBI singles to go ahead 2-0. Stetson would put another run on the board in the top of the third inning when Sam Kimmel and Ben Carhart recorded consecutive doubles to go on top 3-0.
Kennesaw erased the deficit by one in their half of the frame when Almonte singled to left field to plate Aaron Dobbs, but it would be their lone run of the game until their late- inning heroics.
Justin McCalvin entered the game in the fifth inning for starter Kevin McCoy and delivered his best outing of the season. McCalvin tossed four innings of scoreless baseball to hold the Hatters at bay. The freshman stuck out five and picked up the win for his third of the season. Senior Zak Griffith closed the door for the second straight game as he retired the Hatters in order to preserve the 5-4 win and the 33rd win of the season, setting a new Division I program record for the Owls.
Almonte, Hart and Pentecost finished the game with two hits apiece to lead the Owls offense, as the team tallied 10 hits for the second time of the tournament.
Kennesaw State will advance to the Championship round, as they will return to action on Saturday at 1 p.m. E.T., to face the No.4 seeded Florida Gulf Coast.
Free video on Atlantic Sun TV and ESPN3 will be offered for Saturday’s coverage. All Access will provide free audio, as Nathan McCreary and Brian Harper will be describing all the action. For updates throughout the game, you can follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlsBaseball.
