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Kennesaw, Ga. – The Kennesaw State baseball team surged past visiting USC Upstate, 12-8, on Sunday (March 29) afternoon at Stillwell Stadium. The Owls compiled 12 runs on 13 hits to take the rubber game in their Atlantic Sun Conference opening weekend series.

With the win, KSU improved to 14-13 overall and 2-1 in the A-Sun. USC Upstate fell to 9-19 overall on the season, and 1-2 in league standings.

"We got two wins this weekend and we have to be happy winning the series, "head coach Mike Sansing said.

Seven Owls totaled at least one hit in the weekend series' deciding game three, while Chris Erwin led the offense finishing the day 3-for-5 with an RBI and a pair of runs scored. Chris McGowan (2-for-2), Taylor Allum (2-for-5), Grant Williams (2-for-3) and Griffin Helms (2-for-4) all had multi-hit games for Kennesaw State in the winning effort.

"We were able to work some counts and get guys on base today," Sansing said. "Offensively, it was good to see us maximize our opportunities and score some runs."

In a game that featured four lead changes throughout, the Owls faced their largest deficit trailing 4-1 heading the bottom half of the fifth inning. KSU's lineup exploded, sending 10 batters to the dish, scoring five runs on five hits to take a 6-4 edge over the Spartans.

Allum, who finished the game with a career-high three RBI, jumpstarted the inning with an RBI single. Williams, who ended his weekend batting an impressive .667 (6-for-9), followed with a two-run single up the middle. Freshman teammate Griffin Helms and sophomore Corey Greeson also contributed with RBI in the frame.

After the Spartans responded with four runs in the top half of the seventh to take an 8-6 edge, the Owls' resiliency at the plate exploded once more in the bottom half of the frame. KSU sent 12 more batters to the dish, scoring a game-high six runs in the inning on five hits to propel its lead to 12-8.

The deciding inning was highlighted when junior shortstop Kal Simmons, who entered the game tied for the most home runs in the Atlantic Sun with seven, turned on a fastball and send the ball over the right field fence for a grand slam. The grand slam gave the Owls a 10-8 lead at the time, and never looked back.

"Kal Simmons had a grand slam today, which was a huge moment in the game," Sansing said.

It marked Simmons' second grand slam of the year, and eighth homer on the season. In all, Simmons is batting .300 (33-for-110) with a team-high 33 hits. He also has compiled four doubles and a team-leading 25 RBI to go with his eight home runs.

Leading 10-8, Kennesaw State's bats stayed hot and added two insurance runs that sealed the win. After Erwin and senior Chris McGowan reached base, Allum's two-out, two-run RBI single pushed the Owls' lead to four.

Kennesaw State combined for 11 of its 12 runs in the fifth and seventh innings, sending 22 total batters to the plate for 10 hits.

Sophomore duo Mason Ward and Gabe Friese worked out of the bullpen late in the game to secure the win. Ward (2-0) earned the win, not allowing a run or hit in 2/3 innings of work, while Friese closed the afternoon with two scoreless innings.

"Gabe got us six outs today and we were able to close out the game," Sansing said.

Kennesaw State will return to the ballpark on Tuesday evening for a midweek showdown with Western Carolina at Stillwell Stadium. It will be the second game of the home-and-home series between the two teams. First pitch is set for 6 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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