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KENNESAW, Ga. – The Owls completed the opening series sweep against Jacksonville State on Sunday at Stillwell Stadium as starting pitcher
Will Solomon allowed only two hits in a 9-3 win.
“This was a great way to start our season,” Head Coach
Mike Sansing said. “It is always our goal heading in to Friday to win all three, and to do be able to complete it give us a lot of motivation heading into Wednesday’s game versus Georgia.”
The pitching staff combined to allow only four hits and nine strike outs on the evening, while the offense came back to life with nine runs on 11 hits.
For the first time in the series, Kennesaw State was forced to play from behind. After giving up one run in the second inning, the Gamecocks capitalized on their second double of the afternoon when Eddie Mora-Loera drove in Chase Silvani to push the lead to 2-0.
Solomon would regain his focus after the second, not allowing another hit. The combination of Solomon,
Jordan Hillyer and
Andrew Austin didn’t allow a single base runner until the eighth inning.
KSU would get both runs back in their half of the third inning with a two out rally that tied the game at two all.
Jacob Bruce started the rally with a single before advancing to second on a wild pitch.
Bo Way reached on one of Jacksonville State’s four errors and later came in to tie the game up as both he and Bruce scored on a throwing error by the centerfielder Michael Bishop.
The Owls platted two more runs in the fourth inning when Andy Almonte scored on a throwing error and
Alex Liquori scored after a fielder choice off the bat of
Kal Simmons.
Each team would add a run in the late innings before the Owls’ offense would break the game open in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Max Pentecost led off the inning with a double before both
Chris McGowan and
Anthony Duran were hit by pitches to load the bases.
Brennan Morgan would pick up his first RBI of the season on a sacrifice fly that scored Pentecost. Bruce picked up two more RBI on the weekend with a single that scored Duran and McGowan. Way then followed with his second RBI of the game, a single to right field that brought home Simmons to give KSU a 9-3 advantage.
Junior
James Connell closed out the game with six pitches to retire the Gamecocks in order and preserve the 9-3 win and a perfect start to the 2013 season.
For the weekend, KSU allowed only 18 total hits and earned 21 strikeouts to produce the sweep. The Owls advanced to 3-0 for the first time since 2011 when the team swept Ball State. The 2011 team would go 5-0 before eventually losing to Memphis.
The offense this weekend was led by Bruce and Way who each batted .417. Bruce collected five RBI and scored three runs, while Way totaled three RBI and scored three runs.
Kennesaw State will return to action on Wednesday when the team travels to Athens, Ga., to face Georgia at Foley Field at 5 p.m. E.T. Keep up with Owls baseball all season by following KSU on Twitter
@KSUOwlNation and
@KSUOwlsBaseball, or by liking Kennesaw State Owls on Facebook.
Kennesaw State University is celebrating 30 years of intercollegiate athletics during the 2012-13 academic year.
