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KENNESAW, Ga. – With a strong pitching performance from starter Jordan Hillyer and a clutch hit from Bo Way, the Kennesaw State baseball team picked up a series opening win over Columbia, 2-0, on Friday afternoon in Stillwell Stadium.
 
Hillyer put in seven innings of work, allowing just five hits and striking out seven while improving his record to 2-0 and bumping the Owls' overall record to 9-6.
 
After the teams breezed through the first five innings scoreless, it was KSU that put up the only runs of the ballgame in the bottom of the sixth, Kal Simmons reaching on a single to right field followed by Justin Motley reaching after being hit by a pitch.
 
Way then stepped up with two outs and belted a triple down the left field line, driving home Simmons and Motley for the 2-0 KSU lead.
 
After holding the Lions, now 2-3 on the year, scoreless to the ninth, it was Way who came through again, this time flashing the leather in center field, grabbing the final out of the contest to send the Owls away winners.
 
Justin McCalvin earned his first save of the season after closing out the game with two innings pitched allowing just one hit and striking out three while lowering his ERA to just 0.47.
 
Offensively the Owls put up five total hits, one each from Simmons, Motley, Way, Brennan Morgan and Cornell Nixon, Way smacking the only one for extra bases with his two RBI triple.
 
From behind the plate Max Pentecost caught a pair of runners stealing.
 
Columbia starter David Speer tossed a nice game as well, lasting eight innings giving up five hits and striking out five.
 
KSU and Columbia will square off again on Saturday, March 8 at 1 p.m. ET in doubleheader action at Stillwell Stadium.

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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