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KENNESAW, Ga. – It was a heartbreaker for the Kennesaw State baseball team as the Owls fell, 4-3, in 11 innings to in-state rival Mercer in the Atlantic Sun Conference opener for both squads on Friday night.
The Owls (9-9, 0-1 A-Sun) were just two outs away from the win, holding a 3-0 advantage in the top of the ninth, when Mercer (15-4, 1-0 A-Sun) center fielder Sasha Lagarde took a
James Connell (Roswell, Ga./Georgia Perimeter College) fastball over the right field wall to knot things up at three.
KSU then put two on with just one out in the bottom of the ninth but failed to scratch across the go-ahead run before the Bears ultimately won it in the top of the 11
th inning, scoring the winning run on a wild pitch.
In what was a close game, the Owls cracked open a tied ballgame in the bottom of the fifth when
Chris McGowan (Lawrenceville, Ga./Collins Hill HS) singled in
Bo Way (Brunswick, Ga./Glynn Academy) to put the home team up 1-0. One inning later it was nine-hole hitter
Kal Simmons (Nashville, Ga. Berrien HS) coming through with the RBI double to drive home
Alex Liquori (Brooks, Ga./Whitewater HS) to edge the Owls up by a pair.
KSU scored once more, this time in the bottom of the eighth, as a Way RBI single gave the Owls a 3-0 lead heading into the ninth before the Mercer blast sent the game into extras.
Offensively it was the sophomore McGowan who came through with three hits in five at bats including one double with an RBI and a walk. Way and Hart each picked up a pair of hits as well with Way earning an RBI and scoring a run.
Starting pitcher
Stephen Janas (Marietta, Ga./Lassiter HS) got the no-decision after throwing five scoreless innings allowing seven hits and striking out three.
Will Solomon (Columbus, Ga./Columbus HS) and
Justin McCalvin (Leesburg, Ga./Lee County HS) combined to throw one hit in three innings of relief.
The two teams will play the second game of the three-game series tomorrow, March 16, at 2 p.m. ET in Stillwell Stadium.
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.
Around the A-Sun
East Tennessee State 8, USC Upstate 0
