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ATHENS, Ga. – Kennesaw State used a ninth-inning rally to defeat No. 29 Georgia, 2-1, Wednesday at Foley Field in Athens.
Deadlocked at 1-1, the two teams combined for just seven hits through eight innings before the Owls (4-0) broke through for a run in the top of the ninth.
Andy Almonte led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by
Chris McGowan.
Kody Belcher followed with an infield single to put runners at first and third with one out. After a strikeout, #Kai Simmons" reached safely on a fielder's choice allowing Almonte to score the eventual winning run.
Junior closer
James Connell came on to save the game for the Owls, walking the first batter faced, before retiring the next three batters in order to record his first save of the season.
“Tonight’s game represents everything this team embodies, playing hard, hustling on the base pads and always giving it your all,” head coach
Mike Sansing said. “The pitchers really set the tone for us and we combined their performance with great defense and it allowed us a chance to win late.”
The Owls notched the game’s first run in the top of the fourth inning when
Max Pentecost single to center field to drive home
Bo Way, who walked to open the frame and advanced to second on a groundout..
KSU starter Steve Janas would exit the game with the lead, pitching three innings without allowing a hit or walk in his 2013 debut. Janas struck out two in a limited pitch count outing before giving way to sophomore
Colton Cross.
Cross threw a perfect fourth frame before giving up the first Bulldogs hit in the fifth inning. The second hit came in the sixth inning as J.T. Phillips produced a leadoff single. Phillips advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt before knotting the game at 1-1 on Kyle Farmer's double down the left field line.
The Owls were held in check until the eighth inning when they advanced a runner into scoring position for the first time since the fourth inning. Simmons was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and advanced to second on an error. Despite eventually getting Simmons to third base, Kennesaw State was unable to push across a run.
Justin McCalvin (1-0), a NCBWA Stopper of the Year Watch List selection, tossed a scoreless seventh and eighth frame. McCalvin struck out three and allowed one hit in his two innings of work.
The Owls have won three of the last five meetings against the Bulldogs, and their victory over Georgia marks the program's first over a ranked opponent since defeating No. 21 Kent State in March of 2009.
Kennesaw State returns to the diamond on Friday, Feb. 22 when the Owls welcome Radford to Stillwell Stadium for a three-game weekend series.
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.
