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

Kennesaw, Ga.  – The Kennesaw State baseball program compiled 23 runs on 36 hits to sweep its doubleheader with visiting William & Mary Saturday (March 21) afternoon. The Owls (12-10) defeated the Tribe (10-9) in the first game of the day, 13-12, in 10 innings, before taking the second game of the twinbill by a score of 10-1 at Stillwell Stadium.
 
Kennesaw State's 36 hits were the most hits recorded in a two-game stretch this season. In fact, the Owls compiled 42 hits over their three games against the Tribe, which is the most hits the team has recorded in a three-game set in 2015. The Owls batted .439 as a team on the day, going 36-for-82 at the plate with four doubles, two home runs –including a grand slam by Kal Simmons in game one— and 13 walks.
 
"I thought we had a great day offensively. We had some good at-bats all day and we executed very well," head coach Mike Sansing said. "We executed some things playing small ball and we did a nice job of moving runners up."
 
Offensively, 10 Owl batters recorded at least one hit on the day. Corey Greeson –who reached base safely nine times this weekend –finished the day 5-for-8 with three RBI and four runs scored. Simmons (6-for-10, five RBI), Chris McGowan (4-for-8, five runs), Grant Williams (5-for-10, two RBI) and Taylor Allum (5-for-10, three runs) all had big performances at the dish for Kennesaw State.
 
GAME 1: Kennesaw State 13, William & Mary 12 (10 innings)
Freshman Griffin Helms' walk-off single in the bottom half of the 10th inning lifted the Owls past William and Mary in game one of the doubleheader. Kennesaw State trailed the Tribe by one down to its final three outs, but the Owls plated the game-tying run off a defensive error which set the stage for Helms to hit his first collegiate walk-off single.
 
"It's very big to get back on the winning track. Momentum is an interesting topic and hitting is contagious and so is winning," Sansing said. "I felt like this series was very important going into conference play next weekend."
 
In a back-and-forth offensive juggernaut between the two teams –which featured five ties and six lead changes—the game showcased a combined 25 runs on 36 hits. The teams combined for 14 extra base hits, including 11 doubles and three home runs.
 
The Owls placed crooked numbers on the scoreboard in fourth different innings, including a four-run fourth and a five-run seventh to lead by as many as four runs on two different occasions. But, William and Mary stopped the bleeding by countering with runs in eight of the 10 innings played.
 
Tied at 2-2, Simmons turned on an inside fastball and drove it over the right field wall for a grand slam in the bottom of the fourth inning. It marked the junior shortstops team-leading sixth homer of the season, and now sits with19 RBI on the season in 22 games.
 
Trailing 7-6 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Owls had a six-hit outburst that led to five runs to regain the lead at 11-7. Allum led off the inning with a solo home run –his first collegiate homer— that jumpstarted the frame as McGowan, Williams, Greeson and Simmons all followed with hits to cap off a game-high, five-run seventh.
 
The Tribe answered with five runs over the next three innings to push the Owls to the edge in the bottom of the 10th. After the Owls loaded the bases with one out, Williams grounded to short only to have the shortstop make an error to allow KSU to tie the game at 12-12. Helms then played hero, driving a ball up the middle to center field, scoring Motley from third to take the game.
 
GAME 2: Kennesaw State 10, William & Mary 1
The Owls carried their offensive momentum quickly into the second game, scattering seven consecutive hits the first inning to grab a 6-0 edge. It was a lead Kennesaw State never surrendered, scoring 10 runs on 16 hits in game two of the twinbill to sweep the Tribe.
 
Sophomore pitcher Gabe Friese (3-2) proved to be beneficiary of the Owls' early offensive, earning his third win of the season. The right-handed pitcher tossed 8.0 innings of the hill, allowing one unearned run on just three hits.
 
"It was a very good performance. He threw a lot of strikes and pitched well on both sides of the plate," Sansing said. "We just went out there and delt."
 
The righty found his groove in the middle of the game, retiring 10 straight Tribe batters from the fourth inning into the eighth frame. Friese, who was in control of the game from the start, also finished with five strikeouts on the evening.
 
With the win, coach Sansing now sits one win shy on 1,000 career victories. His storied career started at Shorter from 1989-1992, compiling a record of 102-55 (.650). Sansing, now in his 24th season with the Owls, has assembled a career record of 897-474 at Kennesaw State, giving him 999 career wins.
 
KSU will return home next Tuesday (March 24) at Stillwell Stadium to take on Georgia Southern in midweek play. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.
 
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.