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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Despite a solid 7.2 innings of work from freshman starter Gabe Friese, the Kennesaw State baseball team fell to Alabama, 4-1, in Tallahassee Regional action on Sunday evening.
 
The loss sits both the Owls and the Crimson Tide at 2-1 in the postseason tournament, setting up a winner-take-all championship bout on Monday, June 2, at noon ET on ESPNU.
 
"Offensively we couldn't really get anything going today," said Kennesaw State head coach Mike Sansing. "Pitching wise, I thought Friese did an excellent job, didn't walk anybody, kept us right there. But we weren't able offensively to challenge. I thought, obviously their guy did well, threw a complete game. I think he'd thrown three innings into the season was his longest outing. He did a great job; we just couldn't get it going."
 
After holding Alabama scoreless for 12 consecutive innings through the tournament, the Crimson Tide broke through in the top of the fourth, scoring their first run off of a costly KSU fielding error.
 
Alabama then put across two more with a bases clearing double from Casey Hughston, setting the Tide up 3-0, all three runs unearned.
 
The Owls bounced back in the home half, scoring their first run of the evening with an RBI single back up the middle from Chris McGowan, scoring Max Pentecost who led off the inning with a bunt single down the third base side.
 
KSU had the bases loaded before the inning ended, a strikeout stranding three, sending the game into the fifth 3-1 Alabama.
 
The Crimson Tide gained the run back in the top of the seventh as Mikey White scored on a scorcher down the left field line from Georgie Salem, sending the game into the stretch at 4-1 UA.
 
KSU put runners in scoring position in the eight, but failed to knot it up with the tying run on the plate, setting up the championship match on Monday.
 
Friese tossed 7.2 innings for KSU, allowing just two earned runs with three strikeouts and no walks while throwing a career high 109 pitches.
 
"I think I did pretty well today," said Friese of his performance. "I was locating them in and out. I missed a few pitches and they capitalized on it. Overall, they're just a good hitting team. I threw pitches and got outs."
 
After rocking Georgia Southern for 20 hits on Saturday night, the Owls mustered up just five during the Sunday matinee, Brennan Morgan coming up with two while Bo Way, Pentecost and McGowan each rattled one.
 
"I think we'll be fine," said Pentecost. "You know, last time we lost, seven or eight games ago, we bounced back just fine the next game. We just kind of overlooked it, tried to fix what went wrong, and I think we'll be fine. We'll just get in there, try to have fun and play how we know."
 
Alabama starter Taylor Guilbeau went the distance, giving up just the five KSU hits with five K's and just one run.

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.
  





 

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