Box Score (XML) | Box Score (.PDF) | Mike Sansing: A Journey To Remember
Kennesaw, Ga. – The scoreboard's final numbers showed Kennesaw State won 5-0 and junior pitcher Jordan Hillyer tossed a two-hit, complete game, masterful performance. But, all those numbers led to one significant figure. 1,000. Oh, how grand it is.
Mike Sansing earned his 1,000th career win Friday (March 27) evening, capping off a story-filled career now in his 27th collegiate season at the helm of a program, when the KSU baseball team flew past Atlantic Sun foe USC Upstate for a 5-0 victory at Stillwell Stadium in the 2015 conference opener.
Sansing, who was introduced as head coach of the KSU program on August 21, 1991, entered his 24th season at the helm of the Owls' baseball program in 2015 just 13 victories shy of 1,000 career wins and completed the milestone Friday night in front of 322 fans on the campus of Kennesaw State.
"We're are very fortunate to have all the players that have come through this program and believe in what we were doing," Sansing said. "I'm very fortunate to have had the opportunity to coach them.
"I just want to thank all the players. Great players make great coaches, and I couldn't have done this without them."
The Owls (13-12, 1-0) were led by Hillyer –a Dacula, Georgia native –, who's resilient effort on the mound helped put Coach Sansing in four figures. Hillyer –who was named one of seven Louisville National Player of the Week last Monday—, struck out 11 Spartan batters in his complete game shutout effort.
"Hillyer set the tone for us early and he threw extremely well tonight," Sansing said.
USC Upstate (8-18, 0-1) could not get anything going offensively, as Hillyer worked six 1-2-3 innings to keep the Spartan offense quiet. In fact, Hillyer (3-2) allowed a hit in the first inning and did not allow another until the top of the ninth inning –retiring 22 of his next 26 batters before allowing a leadoff double in the ninth.
The Owls' offense proved beneficiary of Hillyer's masterful performance, out-hitting USC Upstate 14-2 on the night.
Deadlocked at 0-0 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, Kennesaw State broke the scoreless drought when senior Chris McGowan connected for a solo home run over the right field wall for a 1-0 lead. His first homer of the season lead to seven consecutive hits, scoring five runs in the inning to put the game out of reach.
Grant Williams and Taylor Allum each finished the night 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the Owls offensively. Corey Greeson and Jeremy Howell each compiled two hits, while McGowan, Kal Simmons, Chris Erwin and Griffin Helms all added a hit each in the contest.
"I thought the bottom half of the lineup played well tonight. They were a major factor in the win tonight and to get us going in conference play," Sansing said. "We had 14 hits tonight and we had a lot of guys contribute to that."
With two outs in the top of the ninth, and Sansing clinging to the end of the dugout rail, Hillyer forced a fly out to end the game. KSU players engulfed Sansing as he received hugs and congratulations from players and coaches.
"I was trying to get the shutout for Hillyer," Sansing said. "With two outs in the ninth inning I wanted to finish the game off and be done with it."
"I was pretty amped up coming out in the ninth. Those three outs are always the hardest and I just wanted to go out there and throw strikes," Hillyer said."
Sansing begun his collegiate career as head coach for three seasons at Shorter (102-55) before coming over to Kennesaw State in 1991. Since then, he has compiled an 898-476 record with the Owls, including two national championships, 20 Coach of the Year honors, 10 national tournament appearances and over 40 players drafted in the MLB. He also led his program to four Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament appearances and five total championships since arriving at Kennesaw State in 1991. The program reached new heights in 2014 when it advanced to the 2014 Super Regional after defeating Alabama in the Tallahassee Regional, capping off the most successful season at the Division I level.
KSU will return to the diamond Saturday (March 28) afternoon, playing in its second game of the three-game set with USC Upstate. First pitch is set for 2 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).
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