Box Score (XML) | Box Score (.PDF) 

---

Macon, Ga. – The Kennesaw State baseball defeated Mercer University Wednesday (Feb. 18) evening, 8-2, at Claude Smith Field in its first road game of the 2015 season. Freshman pitcher AJ Moore was strong in his first collegiate start on the mound, while the Owls recorded 12 hits and 0 errors for their most complete game of the season.

The Owls (3-1), who entered the game atop of the Atlantic Sun with four home runs and 29 hits, showcased their offensive firepower against the Bears (1-4). Kennesaw State recorded eight runs—five in the first three innings— on 12 hits in its first road game of the season. The Owls moved to a perfect 3-0 when scoring the first run of the game, and 3-0 when leading after the 7th inning.

"It was encouraging to see our offensive get going tonight," head coach Mike Sansing said.

The Owls quickly jumped on the scoreboard, scoring the game's first three runs in the top half of the second inning. Alex Liquori –who was selected preseason All-American—jumpstarted the inning with a home run to deep left center field, marking his fourth career homer and first of the 2015 season.

KSU continued to hit its stride offensively in the inning, as Jeremy Howell doubled off the center field wall before Justin Motley's RBI single brought him across home plate. Howell, who is a Dallas, Georgia native, scored the Owls' third run of the inning when Kal Simmons doubled to right field to bring home Motley.

The offensive firepower continued in the following inning, as the Owls posted two more runs to extend their lead to 5-0. After junior catcher Brennan Morgan walked to lead off the top of the second, senior Colin Bennett –who went 4-for-5 over opening weekend against Liberty and St. John's—followed with a two-run homer over center field to give the Owls a 5-0 lead.

"We got going early with a few home runs," Sansing said. "We were aggressive at the plate and we were able to hold on for the win"

Meanwhile, Moore (1-0)—who made his collegiate debut against St. John's last weekend in relief— rolled through his first four innings of work. The right-handed pitcher retired 12 of his first 13 batters he faced, including eight strikeouts for his first victory of the season. Moore was solid in the start for KSU, recording nine strikeouts in 4.1 inning of work while allowing two runs on three hits before handing the ball to Chris Erwin in the fifth frame.  

Mercer scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning off Moore to get within three. But, the Owls shut the door on the Bears for the remainder of the game with solid bullpen work.
Freshman Griffin Helms recorded his third RBI of the season with a two-out single to center field in the top half of the seventh inning, extending KSU's lead to 6-2. The RBI single brought home Bennett, who reached earlier on a fielder's choice and worked his way around the bases for his seventh run of 2015.

In all, the Owls' pitching on the day recorded 16 strikeouts on the day –three short of the record in a single game—and six 1-2-3 innings. Erwin worked a perfect 3.2 innings of relief, allowing no runs and no hits. Freshman Tony Dibrell worked a scoreless ninth in his collegiate debut to close the door on the Bears.

"Those 1-2-3 innings are important and to get that many short innings was great to have tonight," Sansing said. "It makes the game go a lot smoother."

Season tickets are currently on sale for the full 29-game home schedule at $39 per ticket. Single-game tickets are also available at $6 for adults and $4 for youth (ages 3-12). Group tickets for 10 or more people are available for advanced purchase, excluding the Georgia (Feb. 17), Georgia Tech (Mar. 17) and Georgia Southern (Mar. 24) games when individual tickets will be $10 for adults and $6 for youth. To order season tickets click here, or contact the KSU Athletic Ticket Office at 470-578-OWLS (6957).

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.