GAME ONE
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GAME TWO
BOX SCORE (XML) | BOX SCORE (PDF)

KENNESAW, Ga. – It was an offensively productive day for the Kennesaw State baseball team during the Owls' season opening doubleheader against Middle Tennessee State, splitting the two games with the Blue Raiders while posting 15 runs at Stillwell Stadium on Saturday.
 
The Owls took the second end of the twinbill from MTSU, 5-1, recording the team's first win of the 2014 campaign, with the Blue Raiders taking a close one in the first, 11-10.
 
Kal Simmons and Max Pentecost each belted five hits during the two games, Pentecost knocking two doubles and Simmons opening up game one with a stand-up triple, while starting pitcher Travis Bergen struck out nine while earning the victory in game two.
 
During the game two victory it was all KSU, the Owls putting across three runs in the bottom of the first with Simmons starting things off with a single to leftfield. Pentecost drove in his teammate with a double before Chris McGowan earned the RBI and scored the run as the Owls took the 3-0 lead.
 
KSU tagged on one more in the fourth as Matt Bahnick scored the unearned run for a 4-0 lead before Alex Liquori scored the fifth and final run in the sixth, Dylan Ivey driving in the run for the five-run advantage.
 
MTSU managed one run in the seventh, but it was all KSU as the Owls took the 5-1 win, Bergen earning the victory after allowing just three hits in five innings of work with nine strikeouts.
 
Simmons, Pentecost, Liquori and Brennan Morgan each picked up two hits during the win.
 
In the game one opener it was an offensive arms race, KSU striking first with a run in the opening frame after a Simmons triple started things off. MTSU dropped four runs in the top of the second, taking a 4-1 lead, and hanging one more in the third to go up 5-1.
 
The Owls then answered with a four-run inning of their own in the fourth, Pentecost starting the rally with a lead-off single followed by a walk by McGowan. Morgan then drew the free pass as did Liquori, scoring Pentecost in the process. Freshman Jeremy Howell then smacked the two RBI single to tie it up at five.
 
The Blue Raiders regained the lead in the fifth on a solo homerun and padded the edge with two more in the seventh, putting the visitors up 8-5.
 
KSU again responded, scratching across a five spot in the bottom of the seventh, going up 10-8, Liquori coming up with the two RBI single that scored Pentecost and Jacob Bruce. A delayed steal gave the Owls their final run of the game as Morgan made his way home.
MTSU then scored the game winning runs in the eight, putting up three runs to take the 11-10 lead.
 
Simmons, Bruce and Pentecost each put up three hits, Simmons earning a triple with Pentecost coming away with a double. Liquori was good for three RBI while Bruce drove in two.
 
The Owls and the Blue Raiders will play one more, closing out the three-game series at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. Nathan Harsh will be on the hill for KSU.

To keep up with the latest Kennesaw State baseball news, follow the team on Twitter @KSUOwlNation and @KSUOwlsBaseball or by liking Kennesaw State University on Facebook.

For more information on how to purchase tickets, please call the KSU ticket office at 770-423-6957, or by visiting KSUOwls.com/tickets.
   


 

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