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MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Freshman
Jordan Hillyer earned his first career win as the Kennesaw State baseball team won 2-1 over Alabama State at Walker Wheeler Park. The Owls advanced to 6-3 on the season, while the Hornets fell to 8-2.
The Owls scored the game’s first run in the second inning on an
Anthony Duran single that platted
Andy Almonte. Moved up into the sixth hole of the lineup, Duran produced his third RBI in two games.
Alabama State tied the game up in their half of the second inning as leadoff hitter Dexter Price took the first hit given up by Hillyer on the season over the leftfield wall to knot the game at 1-1.
Hornet’s starter Hunter McIntosh had trouble finding the strike zone, walking six batters in the first three innings. Unfortunately the Black and Gold couldn’t manufacture any runs, stranding five men on base through three.
KSU would eventually score another run in the fourth inning when
Alex Liquori drove in
Chris McGowan for his third RBI in two games, but that would be it as the Owls would leave eight runners on base, six in scoring position.
“We failed to capitalize on what could have been some big scoring innings,” Head Coach
Mike Sansing said. “We pitched great tonight and again it set the tone for us. We have to create more scoring opportunities as we go forward, but any win is a good one.”
Owls starting pitcher Hillyer would exit the game in the fourth inning with the lead, allowing three hits, one earned run and five strikeouts.
The combination of
Alan Busenitz,
Justin McCalvin and
James Connell finished the final five innings without giving up a hit. Busenitz, in just his second appearance of 2013 tossed three strong innings before giving way to McCalvin in the eighth and Connell in the ninth. Connell picked up his second save and closed out the 2-1 win for the Owls, giving Hillyer his first collegiate victory.
“I am excited to get my first college win. I felt I was getting into a rhythm as the game progressed,” Hillyer said. “After giving up the homerun I gathered myself and settled in. I felt I could have gone longer if they needed me.”
Kennesaw State will return to action on Friday at Middle Tennessee State in a first of a three-game series starting at 3 PM. 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.
Game notes: Alex Liqouri moved into the leadoff spot after starting the season 6-for-12… Jordan Hillyer got his first start of his collegiate career… Anthony Duran went back-to-back games with two hits and an RBI… McCalvin tossed his seventh full inning without giving up an earned run… James Connell recorded his second save of the season.
