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KENNESAW, Ga. – The nation's longest winning streak is safe for one more game after Chris McGowan put a two-run homer over the right field wall in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Kennesaw State baseball team the 9-8 Sunday win over East Tennessee State.
 
The victory gives KSU its 11^th in a row and third straight Atlantic Sun Conference series win, moving KSU to 25-20 on the season and 11-9 in the league standings.
 
After ETSU took the lead, 8-7, in the top of the ninth, Brennan Morgan stepped up with two outs and drew the walk after working the count full. McGowan then blasted the game-winning hit over the right field wall, scoring pinch hitter Kendall Hawkins and giving KSU the win.
 
The homer was the third of the season for McGowan and was his third hit of the day as the Owls once again collected double-figure hits at 14.
 
KSU has now swept all three of its last three conference series wins, dropping the Bucs to 20-22 on the year and under .500 in the A-Sun at 8-9.
 
ETSU picked up the afternoon's first runs in the top of the second as right fielder Tyler Roach put a home run ball over the left field fence for a 2-0 lead.
 
The Owls made it a one-run game in the bottom of the second as Morgan started off the inning with a single before moving to third on a Matt Bahnick double down the left field line. Cornell Nixon then sent a sacrifice fly to shallow center, scoring Morgan for a 2-1 ballgame.
 
But the Bucs got the run back, plating one in the top of the fourth with an RBI double from Zach Mise to bring the ETSU lead back up to 3-1.
 
Bahnick then sent his first home run as an Owl deep over the left-center field wall to bring the lead back down to one for the Bucs at 3-2 after four complete.
 
The Owls had an opportunity to tie things up in the fifth, putting Kal Simmons on third and Bo Way on second, but the runners were stranded in scoring position as ETSU took the lead into the sixth.
 
Head's up base running from Simmons in the bottom of the seventh then tied up the ball game as the shortstop made his way home from second on a Way infield single to knot things at three.
 
Morgan then gave KSU its first lead of the afternoon with a bases clearing, two RBI triple to left field, bringing home Pentecost and Way for a 5-3 home team edge. Chris McGowan then drove in Morgan one batter later to put the Owls up 6-3.
 
The Owls added one more for good measure in the bottom of the eight, Nixon reaching second on an ETSU error before making his way home on a Jacob Bruce RBI to set KSU up 7-3.
But ETSU didn't stay away, putting up five runs in the top of the last off of four hits and an error to take the 8-7 lead before McGowan's heroic shot.
 
James Connell picked up the win on the hill, his fourth of the season, after throwing just two pitches in the ninth and recording one out.
 
At the plate it was another multi-hit game for Pentecost who knocked three, all singles, while scoring one run. McGowan was good for three hits as well, two of those for extra bases with his triple and game-winner.
 
Bahnick, Morgan, Way and Simmons each picked up two hits, Morgan scoring two and driving in a pair as well.
 
KSU will be back on the diamond this Wednesday, April 30, as in-state rival Georgia Southern comes to Stillwell Stadium for a 6 p.m. ET contest.
  
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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