Game 1: Box Score (XML) | Box Score (.PDF)
Game 2: Box Score (XML) | Box Score (.PDF)

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Jacksonville, Ala. – The Kennesaw State baseball team split a pair of non-conference road games against Jacksonville State University on Saturday (Feb. 21) afternoon. The Owls (5-2) defeated the Gamecocks in the first game of the day, 4-2, before dropping the second game of the doubleheader to JSU (4-2) by a score of 11-4 at Rudy Abbott Field.

GAME 1: Kennesaw State 4, Jacksonville State 2
Kennesaw State backed a strong pitching performance by junior pitcher Travis Bergen in game two of the weekend series to earn a 4-2 victory over the Gamecocks of Jacksonville State. Bergen (1-1) earned his first win on the mound this season, while Brennan Morgan and Jeremy Howell continued their hot bats at the plate to secure the series by going a combined 4-for-6 and two RBI in the game.
 
Once again, for the second straight game, the Owls scored the game's first run in the second inning. Howell, who finished last night at the plate 3-for-5 with three RBI and a home run shy of the cycle, continued his strong weekend with a double to left field after freshman Griffin Helms singled up the middle. Cornell Nixon, who made his third start at second base, followed with an RBI single to give the Owls a 1-0 lead.
 
Meanwhile, Bergen retired nine of his first 10 batters, tossing three scoreless frames to begin the game. The left-handed pitcher from McDonough, Georgia, gave up an unearned run in the bottom half of the fourth inning, but bounced back by retiring the next six Gamecock batters.
 
After Kal Simmons' RBI double down the left field line, which gave the Owls a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning, Morgan broke the game open with a two-run homer over the left field fence in the top of the seventh inning. Morgan finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored.
 
The home run marked Kennesaw State's league-leading eighth homer of the season. KSU has hit a home run in five of the first six games of the season. 
 
The lead proved enough for the Owls' pitching staff. Bergen was strong in his outing, finishing the day allowing one unearned run, three hits, five strikeouts and one walk in 7.0 innings of work. Redshirt-freshman Chris Erwin earned his first collegiate save, pitching a scoreless ninth to secure to victory.
 
With the win, the Owls moved to 5-1 on the young season, marking their best start to a season since the 2011 season. KSU also improved on its impressive regular season totals, having won 24 of their last 26 regular season games.
 
GAME 2: Kennesaw State 4, Jacksonville State 11
Jacksonville State grabbed its first lead of the weekend by jumping out to a quick 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first in game two, as two hits and a walk produced two runs for the Gamecocks. It marked the first time all season the Owls trailed after the first inning after outscoring their opponents 3-0 prior to the game in the opening frame.
 
However, the Owls bounced back, scoring two runs in the top of the second inning to tie the game at 2-2. Back-to-back walks to lead off the inning by Morgan and Liquori and a single followed by Grant Williams loaded the bases for Howell. The sophomore doubled down the left field line to drive in two, recording his third extra base hit of the weekend.
 
The Gamecocks answered, posting a four-run third inning for their largest lead of the entire weekend at 6-2.  JSU accumulated three hits and a walk in the bottom half of the third inning and got some help from the KSU defense to pull away for good. The Gamecocks outscored KSU nine to two after the third inning to win the last game of the series.
 
Morgan's home run over the left field fence in the top of the fourth inning pulled the Owls within 6-3. Morgan, for the day, finished 3-for-7 with two home runs and three RBI. In all, the junior catcher finished the weekend with a team-high .500 (6-for-12) batting average, six hits, six RBI and two walks to finish with an impressive weekend.
 
The Owls now have hit at least one home run in six of their first seven games, totaling nine on the season. Morgan, who hit two homers on the day, holds a team-high nine RBI after his best weekend of the young 2015 season.
 
The Owls will now turn their focus to Georgia for a midweek non-conference affair on Wednesday, Feb. 25. The first pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. in Athens, Georgia. The game will make the first of two scheduled games between the clubs. KSU will host the Bulldogs on a rescheduled date of April 15 after postponing last week's game due to weather at Stillwell Stadium.
 
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.